Is Highbury Fields school really "outstanding" and if so why is it not more popular?

[Leopardpj]

Just that really. Highbury Fields School for girls is local to us and the Ofsted report is glowing but despite living in the area a long time, I've never personally known of anyone who has sent their DD there, which seems odd. I've heard it's strict, and there are a lot of grumbling google reviews from pupils about OTT discipline and poor food... not sure how seriously to take these!

Would love to hear some real experiences, as on paper it looks like a good option for our DD. Are the girls happy? Teachers caring? What's behaviour like? Are the facilities cramped as some say? What are the creative departments like?

Our other local option is Stokey (SNS) - again, I hear mixed reports....

I don't think Highbury Fields is your typical Mumsnet type school. A lot of the families who live on the doorstep send their kids to private schools. It's a fairly typical inner London secondary school, smaller than some.
My DD attended for a short time until a place came up at her first choice school. There was nothing wrong with the school and on paper the results are the same as where she is now. I liked the school and would have been happy for her to stay there. DD prefers where she is now and she says HFS is stricter. It's certainly less strict than some other schools.
It is a cramped site but then so is Camden School for Girls and people like there.
Interesting it kept it's outstanding rating after several schools popular with the middle classes were downgraded to good.

Thank you so much for the reply, which I really appreciate! I think you must be spot on that it’s not a Mumsnet sort of school as there seems to be almost nothing written here about it! And yes particularly intriguing as you say given the school has kept its outstanding ofsted when so many others have not. What I can’t work out is whether that means that despite the Ofsted report, there are genuine persistent concerns about it which put parents off (even if they don’t bother ofsted) - in which case I’d love to know what they are! Or whether - as I’m optimistically hoping is the case! - it’s actually become a really great local school that’s flown under the radar for middle class parents for whatever reason. I will obviously look around myself but it would just be fascinating to hear from parents (if any actually exist on mumsnet!) glad you got your first choice for your DD - I wonder if it was Mary Mags? I hear wonderful things everywhere about that place and it would be my top choice for sure (especially as we have a mix of genders to think about) but think we’d be reliant on this very competitive and unpredictable-sounding governors exam as we are technically just out of Islington borough on the stokey side, and DD doesn’t go to a church school (although we do go to church). Thanks again for your helpful reply!

It was super popular when I was in school (finished my A Levels 2013) but Mary Mag came and people flocked there. I went to LaSwap for sixth form briefly and tons for Highbury Fields girls were there donned with Burberry scarves and expensive bags. I remember thinking they're loaded. It was very popular with the middle class parents then, esp as a backup for those who didn't get into St Marylebone/ Camden.

@Leopardpj you seen to have two different usernames?

My DD took the governors test for Mary Mags and got on the waiting list. She started out at 90-something and rose to 23 over the summer, but no higher. (We are also in Stokey but further from Islington than you by the sounds of it.)

She is now at SNS and seems to be doing all right - mixed reports. Early days yet so I can't judge with authority, but it seems to be a place with great staff and facilities yet chaos is never far from the surface. The other day there was an ambulance in the forecourt, rumours of a stabbing. Some pupil behaviour she describes is awful, although most is ok. The "no phones on school premises" policy is a good thing.

Argh I’m so sorry @Squiblet - I seem to come up as a different username depending on if I’m using tablet or phone! Thanks so much for your experience. It sounds like we’re in a very similar position. How frustrating to have come so very close to Mary Mags if that’s the school you wanted. Thanks too for your insight into stokie school, I’ve heard this a lot from other parents - great facilities, good to be on the doorstep, some great teachers - but reports of behaviour problems do seem fairly consistent. It’s so hard to judge as a primary parent whether this is just the reality of most local/ state secondary schools or whether it’s a particular problem at SNS. I do also think it’s easy to think the grass is greener with a different school in another borough you know less about, rather than the school in your doorstep where you do tend to hear about all the things that go wrong/ see the unruly kids at the chip shop every day etc!! I’d really love to hear more about your experiences and those of other stokie friends- did most of them go to SNS or was there a mix? Where people went to other places do you know broadly why / how it’s turning out for them? Thanks again so much for the input

Also interested @Squiblet what you made of schools like Haggerston, mossbourne, Clapton girls (if you considered them) and whether you considered Highbury Fields Girls at all

OFSTED reports should be taken with a pinch of salt. They've been politicised out of recognition. It is entirely in the government's interests to try and imply a distinctly average school shot from, say 'satisfactory' to 'outstanding' via the medium of 'changing the goal posts', while a consistently great, popular high-achieving school with few social issues gets a downgrade to 'good'.

Consistency is key. Consider that Belgium once functioned perfectly well for well over a year without a functional government, whereas countries like Turkey lurch from feast to famine, depending who is in charge.

Choose Belgium.

Thanks @Fordian - I agree about taking OFSTED with a huge pinch of salt which is precisely why I started this thread. I am much more likely to be swayed by the views of parents with direct experience of the school, which is what I’m seeking - and I think it’s a bit of a red flag I seem to have encountered so few parents who have chosen it. On the other hand, it’s been consistently outstanding since 2016 (re inspected this year) so they must be doing some baseline things right I suppose

Argh that’s my phone being weird again. See my message above!

Sorry off topic but I’m interested it’s let you use two usernames on the same thread (by accident) as I thought they’d updated the site to mean that was no longer possible so as to stop sock puppeting from trolls!

I’d really love to hear more about your experiences and those of other stokie friends- did most of them go to SNS or was there a mix?

A few friends have (or have had) older kids at SNS. Half a dozen parents have told me it was good, but one poor boy had an awful time and ended up transferring elsewhere - his parents were very worried about him. Many of DD's primary cohort went somewhere else. She wasn't keen on an all-girls school so we didn't look at Clapton or Highbury Fields at all.

Her friend who went to Mary Mags says it's strict - more so than SNS, which makes me a little relieved DD missed out on it, since she is someone who would do better if allowed to quietly do her own thing and express herself. (We ruled out Mossbourne for this reason) It really depends on the temperament of the child.

Note that SNS has no streaming (which DD is already finding irritating after only one half term) and that it has an excellent art and drama provision.

The commute is also important. You'd hate to have to rely on the 393 bus, it's the worst.

@Squiblet omg you've just reminded me of the 393. I remember running for that tiny evil bus every morning as I went to SNS. This was a long time ago under Mr Emmerson- I think he left when I was in Y9? Possibly.
Some of my friends are now teachers there and they say it hasn't changed at all. It's still very middle class and local council estates. Still very split and people tend to socialise with their 'own' outside of class. The party culture has stayed. It's basically the Fortismere of Hackney. I distinctly remember lots of the naughty boys not returning after the summer of Y9 and they were in the AP unit across the road!

Oh dear @User63847439572 - I promise I’m not a troll!

Thanks so much for all the helpful insights, @Squiblet I do agree with your daughter that no streaming/ setting at all in such a big school does seem counter-intuitive. But that’s encouraging about art and drama- I’ve heard those departments are good from others too, which is great for us as my DD1 is very arty.

I totally agree it’s so dependant on the temperament of the child. If we were talking only about my second daughter for example I’d be more relaxed about some of the downsides as she is a pretty robust sort of kid. But my older DD is quite sensitive and also sadly not an academic self- starter and (even though I know exactly how this makes me sound) I can’t help but slightly worry about her chances - academically and socially - in a big and occasionally chaotic school.

Also hear you on the commute- We’re on the Highbury edge of Stokey so luckily wouldn’t rely on 393, she could walk to Highbury girls or even St MM pretty. Stokey school would be closer still, though and will I suspect be where most of her primary friends end up.

Interesting @Foxesandsquirrels - did you commute from Highbury to SNS then?

I’m still fascinated by how elusive the parents of Highbury Fields girls pupils seem to be on mumsnet, perhaps I should draw my own conclusions from that?!

You're welcome! It's worth trying for St MM - it's got a calmer atmosphere, and people do get in from around here.

@Leopardpj No, the other way. SNS was my local school and I went Y7-Y12 and then to LaSwap for second year of sixth form briefly but I hated it.

I know several people with kids at Highbury Fields and all are happy with it.

I think Mary Mags and SN are the schools of choice, and Highbury Grove goes in or out of fashion depending on how bad it’s reputation is. Remember that a lot of people don’t like single sex schools so automatically discount HF.

I have been there on a visit looking at future options for DD and was impressed by their focus on academic results but pastoral care is also good according to parents I’ve spoken to. It’s strict but I prefer that to the chaotic vibe I got from SN. Most secondaries around here are strict, SN is the exception.

The thing that counts against it for me is the building, it feels cramped and claustrophobic.

This is so helpful @Tallulahoola - thanks for replying. I’m glad to hear the pastoral care is good as that’s really key for us. I like the idea of DD being in a smaller place, and the strictness doesn’t bother me at all either as long as the vibe is generally kind/ caring. Would you say your friends’ daughters seem to feel happy and supported at the school, despite the strictness? It’s a shame the buildings are cramped though - I’ve suspected this from looking at the site and heard that girls struggle to get things like lockers etc because everything is so congested. Whereas SNS does seem to have a very big site and to be relatively well resourced in that way.

Yes they do all feel supported, from what I’ve heard. I think they make a big effort with helping Y7 kids to settle in, and also they’re not unhappy with the strictness apart from the initial shock of it being different to primary school. I guess it depends on your child, some like those firm boundaries.

Also I wonder if the smallness of the site is not a problem when you’re there, just when you’re comparing it to other options? But I don’t know. I think they do sport out on Highbury Fields.

That all sounds good @Tallulahoola and yeah I think I’ve seen them doing sport in Highbury fields.
I think from what I’ve heard most secondary schools are pretty strict around here with SNS the one that has a reputation for being a bit more relaxed.
I guess I just want her to go somewhere where she will build confidence rather than shrink into herself which is her biggest problem but it’s still quite hard to know whether a strict but very orderly/ calm school or a larger more relaxed vibe will be better for that!
It’s also hard with the schools you’re very close to isn’t it, as you do see the big gangs of teens from those schools being loud and unruly and it tends to give a terrible impression but I guess all teens are probably like this at times, I went to a very nice grammar school but I bet if you were on the train with us you’d have thought we were awful too!

My DD is in year 10 at HF & we're pretty happy with it. Their SN provision isn't great but DD is happy there. They're quite strict but nowhere near as crazy as any of the COLAs.
DD2 is going to secondary next year & we've put Mary Mags down as our first choice because I think she's more of a mixed school child but if she gets into HF we'll be just as happy!

Thank you so much @Inmyownlittlecorner I’m so delighted to hear your daughter is enjoying HF. I’m guessing the things that have been raised on this thread haven’t been too much of a concern for her then? (Strictness, potentially cramped site?) Has she made good friends? What have your impressions been of the teaching? Sorry for all the questions, v grateful for any further info!

The teaching is excellent imo, she's never really mentioned feeling cramped apart from moving from class to class & any strictness doesn't seem to over the top. They make a big deal about attendance & the new no phones rule is off putting but DD has made friends, doesn't have any real negative experiences & is happy.

Super reassuring @Inmyownlittlecorner - thanks so much and all the best to you and your DDs!

@Leopardpj It all depends on the year demographics, my DD is in Y7 at HFS and we are looking to move her as soon as possible.
This year cohort seems to be the complete opposite to what my impression of the school was.
Violence, bullying to an extent I found shocking for 11 year old girls in a small school.
We are local to the school and quite a few girls we know from primary school are at HFS so maybe our experience is just a one off, but from what my daughter is telling me almost daily, the bullying is across all forms and learning groups, and not much is being done by the school.
The level of teaching is OK, but not brilliant for the more able girls, despite doing banding test at the beginning, no subjects are done in sets so any banding is completely pointless.
On the upside, their extra-curricular provisions are great, broad range of afterschool clubs, including kayaking at the Wetlands in Manor House, and music lessons (paid), which are of an excellent quality for reasonable cost.

With what I know now, I wouldn't send my daughter there again and am hoping a spot elsewhere will become available soon.

I do think HF is a great school when it comes to your DD education however the school does seem to put a lot of pressure on Students.I do know of parents who have contemplated changing schools due to the amount of pressure put on students.