Henrietta Barnet vs Kendrick

[NameChanged4383]

My DD just started at Kendrick this year (Y7) and we've just received a phone call from HBS offering DD a place. We would have to move but we were planning to move closer to Kendrick anyway so moving is no issue for us.

Now we are wondering if leaving Kendrick for HBS would be more beneficial for my DD in terms of personality and education. We are aware that HBS consistently tops the league tables. We just don't want to make a decision which we may regret later on so if anyone have any experience or advice, we'd appreciate it.

We like both schools but would like to have the best for our DD and not regret the decision.

Not sure what to advise, some statistics

Kendrick vs HBS

PAN
129 vs 104

GCSE 2022 (7-9)
94.3% vs 99.8%

% of Asian Students (except Sixth Form)
80% vs 85%

Latest Ofsted
Outstanding vs Good

What does your daughter want, and where are you based now are the questions I'd ask? I'd just looked up Kendrick and that's quite a way from HB!

My oldest was considering HB for 6th form but it turned out they didn't do the A level they want most of all, and my brother says from what he heard from his daughter's friends who go there it is super high pressure and he wasn't sure that would suit my oldest, so that's one thing to consider.

DD did want HBS but I don’t know what she’ll want now (she’s at school right now) and honestly moving is not an issue for us, we just want to do right by DD.

In terms of environment we keep hearing mixed things which is why we’re confused! It is no doubt academic and hard work but how much pressure a child takes really depends on the child based on the people we’ve spoken to.

DD does tend to be quite laidback and relaxed if that helps anyone.

bump

From the stats above it’s marginal and probably only reflects intake. So unless you passionately felt his was right for some reason then I would stay put.

I don't know Kendrick but I wouldn't me moving house to change to a school when the only difference is those stats. Keep her where she is if she's happy.

Statistics wise, we know there is very little difference in the two schools. Academics really isn't our main concern - we know DD will (probably) do well in either school.

For us, it's more things like what school is better pastorally/overall development. We don't want her to just go to school, do the exams, come out with 12 9s or whatever but have nothing to show extra curricular/personality wise.

I really don't think there will be much difference between two extremely selective girls schools, in any aspect of the school. They'll have very similar funding, very similar pastoral issues and very similar exit routes and personalities of girls. That's just the nature of these schools. Plus, you're unlikely to come across people who have had close dealings with both seeing as geographically they're so different.
Moving to London would be a huge and expensive upheaval, I'm not sure if this is a fake post but this seems to be an extremely unlikely scenario to be in.

Not fake at all nor is it that much of an unlikely scenario. Yes the schools are geographically far apart but as we've said multiple times, moving is no issue for us in anyway including financially and at the end of the day, like most parents, we just want the best for our child.

Anyways, I don't want to derail the thread about moving/how possible this situation is so if you think it's a fake post, please walk away and save your own time.

I genuinely hope you get some opinions on both, but this part of your post: "nor is it that much of an unlikely scenario" is absolute nonsense. It is a very very unlikely scenario for someone to get into both schools and to have the funds to, without a problem and at very short notice, up sticks and move to London.
If you have the funds to do that, and are keen on a broader educational experience for your DD, go to a selective private where they will have a lot more extra curricular opportunities.

Don't think it is fake post at all, the same group of students takes the exam for Kendrick, Sutton SET and HBS (some will even take Birmingham test), and a significant portion of the parents will try to relocate/commute to the school solely based on ranking orders regardless the practicality aspect.

Normally for HBS there are about 40-50 students turn down the offers by September, some set their heart for privates and some didn't manage to move closer in the end. So this kind of question happen year after year.

Thank you for understanding and giving a sensible answer.

@NameChanged4383 , it's worth bearing in mind that the U.K. education systems and ucas system is totally results driven so whilst you want pastoral care etc there isn't much difference between such high achieving schools, your dd will probably get the same gcse and a level results at either school too.

What did you do in the end OP? They sound to be similar schools to me.

Stayed at Kendrick. DD is happy with it so why move her? Both are very very similar for us so we were happy with either one - we just wanted to do right by her and since she wanted to stay, we didn't move.

Any idea friends what should we do : allocated Kendrick at the moment and at waitlist for HBS..whether we should wait for HBS if it comes ( she is in top 20) or go ahead with Kendrick…
really need some guidance here…thank you..

If your friend’s DD has been allocated Kendrick then they must be living in one of the priority areas. Unless they want to go through the hassle of moving or a long commute for their DD, then stay put. I don’t know HBS, but Kendrick has an excellent reputation so I very much doubt an extra long commute or move is worth it.

Thank you for suggesting…we are in Kendrick’s catchment at the moment ofcourse …and yes HBS would require a massive move from our side hence the confusion…

Please dont take this badly, but I think you might find that outside of a few people posting on Internet forums, the vast majority of parents of academically able girls living in a priority area for Kendrick (with friends, social / sporting interests ditto) have had zero confusion at all regarding ' chance local, good grammar school / decent non-selective options vs grammar school requiring upheaval of entire household to a new area miles away' even before the registering for entrance exams stage.

Your DD, as an individual, is almost certainly going to achieve equally well at either school. Being in London does, probably, by its very nature give more opportunities for hanging out with friends in out ones free time, though, so your DD may prefer North London to Reading from this point of view.