St Marylebone School vs Private School

[ElleCool]

Hello,
After reading all the reviews here, I am seeking some more recent advice.
My daughter has secured placements at both St Marylebone and NorthBridge House in Hampstead. We are truly undecided about where to send her. Financially, paying the private school fee would be a stretch, but not impossible. The crux of the matter is that NorthBridge House only provides studies up to GCSE level; afterward, students typically apply to Camden, St Marylebone for their 6th form.
My daughter is a quietly confident and sensitive person. She works diligently and takes things very seriously. She is not very loud and sometimes can pass unnoticed in larger groups. She can benefit from more tailored learning in private, but equally could put up with the challenge at St Marylebone.
I've discussed the matter with her; on one hand, she leans towards a girls-only school because she finds disruptive boys challenging to deal with. On the other hand, she is worried that St Marylebone might be too strict. This feedback is from her experiences during the assessment and music exam. Please let me know your views/recommendations. We have to accept/refuse the place by 15th March. Thank you

if she works hard and very diligently, why is she worried about it being too strict?

tricky. Northbridge is a meh school - cosy, unambitious, safe and stuffy. My child has lots of ex-Northbridge at their school and thinks they have been spoon fed.
marylebone is marmite. I know those who have loved it and those who have hated it and left. I didn’t like it and didn’t put it down as a choice.

@fruity81 Thanks for your question. I suppose because she is a sensitive and quiet. Typically after 2 months the primary school teachers begin noticing her hard work and dedication.

I think I would be concerned about the fees being "a stretch" NBH is not cheap and fees may well increase significantly over the next few years. Do you have younger children that you would also be putting through private schooling? Also, I thought they did have a 6th form, just not at Hampstead site, at Canonbury. I suspect there are other reasons kids leave at 16, and schools like CSG are very popular at sixth form for lots of kids from both state and independent schools, but I'm sure a decent number stay on for sixth form. Either way, I wouldn't base your decision on the sixth form thing. I would discount that completely as in London it's common for kids to choose a different sixth form / college to their school.
St Marylebone can be strict, especially in Y7, they give detentions for example for not completing homework (which didn't happen at my own secondary school). Having said that there are plenty of other schools in north London which are even more strict! You do need a little bit of robustness, but if you always do your homework it shouldn't be a problem.
Other issue is space, St Marylebone is well known for it's inner city location and the school is crowded. I've never visited NBH, but would imagine they have better space and facilities, which you would expect from a private school.

I don’t think the site at Northbridge House Hampstead is particularly big either, so it’s not like some private schools where they have lots of outdoor space. I would be careful too of the boy/girl ratio, as I believe the current year 7 cohort is particularly boy heavy.

As I said on the other thread, I wouldn't turn down St M for NBH. Maybe if you were paying for Highgate or something like that. But not NBH.
It'll be very easy for you to move to NBH if St M doesn't work out.

Thank you so much, everyone, it really helps.

@BananaDaiquiri this is a detailed overview, thanks for taking the time. I have a tendency to overthink when deciding. I agree it's best to base the decision on GCSE rather than 6th Form options. NBH Canonbury provides a 6th Form, but my understanding is that there are fewer options. I have no younger children, but I'm on my own. I'm progressing with my career and making a good living, though additional costs for private will limit our budget significantly. Certainly St Marylebone sounds like a great option. I will add up all the pros and cons and decide in the next couple of days.

I have a quiet well behaved child who did well at primary, but is much better suited to his strict comprehensive.

More challenging curriculum, lots of different teachers and subjects means more chance to shine. Also better behaviour, so teachers can teach, not manage behaviour.

If it doesn’t work, your daughter could move to NBH later.

This is a good point. NBH is pretty sure to have places later, St M will not.

Hello watching with interest! We are same boat- have Queens v. St M- and feel silly to turn down St M with dance, performance and push for same that is paid for. I understand the care and warmth of Queens and it was my DD preferred- but +20% and incoming other child, feel easier to go state and then into indie if/ when need to. Also london living I prefer the inclusive vibe of a state school. We declined Belmont (which DD never really wanted but I LOVED) which is amazing re grounds, space and sport. So hoping the city courtyard doesn't feel too small!
Watching with interest to others and what you choose to do @ElleCool

@schoolobsessive did you like mill hill as well? Most people turn down Belmont as Mill Hill doesn't have a great rep. The new head might turn things around though.

@Foxesandsquirrels I really loved everything about it. Felt like out of town, loved co ed and the busy, boisterous nature. DD got drama scholarship and she loved the drama space and teachers- both schools. We only saw Mill Hill offers holding and I loved... and love the new head- ex KAA.
My worry was more that maybe would get too pushy- and trying more selective...
But people are mixed about it I think. For sure some backups- but for us wa sa push and were thrilled we got. For a few hours!
This whole process is/ has been relentless- I had no idea!!

@schoolobsessive Mill Hill will definitely get more academic as the Belmont lot trickle through. It's been very competitive the last few years but that's a lot to do with the bulge birth years. I guess this is their chance to make it more academic. It's tricky to change the reputation and they've been trying to for ages. Y9 entry into Mill Hill is far easier than Y7 into Belmont.

@ElleCool @schoolobsessive hello. Found your thread from last year and was wondering if your DDs went to Marylebone in the end or not. If she did, can I reach out to you for some insights?

@Buru I would be interested to know too.

Same here. DD starting at St Marylebone this September

@ElleCool Hello, I’m in the same situation with my DD. May I ask what your final decision was? Did you accept the offer at St Marylebone? If not, could you share your reasons for choosing differently? Thanks