Co-Ed state secondaries - North London

[movinghelprequired]

We need to move to North London in the next six months and want to look for a house in catchment of a good co-ed state secondary - or a catchment with good options for DDs and DS.

We have a good budget for a home but not keen on private education. I'd love some suggestions for schools to take a look at.

What's a good budget? How old are your kids? Are you relying on in year spaces?

Children are still in primary - Y4 and Y2 so we've got some time. Budget for property is £2m

With a budget of that size you are probably looking at a school like Fortiesmere. You need to bear in mind that dc travel miles (40mins plus) on public transport for state secondary schools that have aptitude tests or to grammars outside central London like Latymer/HBS. If you enrol your dc in a state primary in an area where the houses cost £2million you will find many of the class go private at age 11.

Many in your position would move further out of london and spend the money saved on private secondary to give you more flexibility with your house purchase.

Thank you @hockeygrass - we really don't want to go private and we've no interest in living outside of London, so it's really about finding the best location possible in town. I'll take a look at Fortismere!

Any other suggestions warmly welcomed

It depends whether you want state selective or comp and whether the school needs to be local or just in catchment.

Dame Alice Owens is v popular if you don’t mind a commute from north London to potters bar. Check postcodes in catchment…
Camden girls is popular but not sure of the boys option in catchment.
Mill Hill County also popular.
no personal experience of any of these schools.

Not impressed by Fortismere myself. I think you’re best to find a house you like and then ask about the nearby secondaries.

some people like APS but it’s fierce. Acland Burghley is great. highgate wood good for some. Girls have unfairly excellent options in Parli, CSG and EGA.

Both Fortismere & Alexandra park schools are very good - I know children who went to both & thrived. You will be able to afford a nice house in the catchment for both. If you move before secondary school the primaries in both areas are excellent.

or Christs College is good - & house prices slightly less in the area.

Where in N London? V big area. Do you need to be close to a specific tube line?
Schools like Fortismere and APS are literal opposites of each other. It's unlikely you'll like both. It's best you work backwards really. Most schools in N London will be very good where houses are £2mil. Nature of the catchment.

Thanks all - I need to get to Old Street and DH to Warren Street. We are very happy to live in a flat so very central living is also a possibility.

Someone told me to check out St Marylebone for DDs. I've read a few threads about it and will go to an open day (although we're not CoE so would need to live on the doorstep). Does anyone know anything about Marylebone Boys' school?

Really appreciate all the suggestions so far! Will be taking a look at them all.

@sittinginacafe What do you mean when you say APS is "fierce"?

Also interested in hearing more about EGA. That would be a great location for us. Is there a good boys option nearby? I've heard City Foundation has mixed reviews.

APS is extremely strict and academic. They used to have a very good reputation for SEN and they still are good for that, IF your child has a very compliant manner and isn't the "difficult" type of SEN. It is where the middle classes that want results send their kids. I personally don't like the catchment area though. It's a bit of a dead zone. Fortismere is literally the opposite. No uniform, very liberal etc.

There are scores of good secondaries in north London. The schools that have been mentioned are the ones always mentioned on MN threads - there are plenty more!

As someone with two children in a North London secondary (which is a very un-MN one), I would look at areas and commuting routes then think about schools.

Fortismerse is quite far away from APS. APS is near Bounds Green tube, Ally Pally and Durnsford Park. Very safe with amazing houses (The Avenue). It's strict but with less issues because of it (bullying, disruption, drugs). Academic with incredible support for kids who are not and amazing non academic subjects ie textiles, iMedia. My daughter is thriving (SEN) - is a pretty incredible school that could do with less white MC families there and more kids who need support there in all reality. I have a child at another local secondary and this is leagues above. I dont need to advertise it as people are desperate to get in there and will literally move mountains to get in.

Totteridge Academy

This is my experience of APS too. Brilliant for my SEN son who was there years 7-11. And great in other ways for my younger non-SEN daughter who is still there and doing very well.

I don't find it too strict, at least we've never had any problems with it. Other than maybe uniform rules, but even then my daughter's skirts got shorter with each passing year and she was never told to change it.

I think the ‘fierce’ comment has been answered by others! Very disciplinarian - which can work for while a child is at school, but doesn’t create a great legacy…

CFSB - some love it, others detest it. I was very impressed the two times I visited, for lots of reasons (for eg one young dad there w his son was remembered by loads of staff, from teachers to dinner ladies - low staff turnover and friendliness counts v v high for me)

Not a fan of St M, and have friends who love it, loathe it (withdrew child), where kids have thrived and others gone off the rails. Too prissy and just too claustrophobic for us.

MBS is very very different. Again v claustrophobic and pretty controlling - the building gives them no choice there. Lovely kids, good teachers, but 100% not for us.

Why Auckland Burghley is great? Thanks!