Parliament Hill and Haverstock School

[miffy1990]

Hi there all

I'm in the process of buying a flat in Battersea, however due to a lack of transparency and general worrying behaviour from my seller, the house may fall through. I have been looking at Belsize Park as an alternative option - and can see two schools within a one mile radius of a property I like - Parliament Hill and Haverstock School. Ultimately I'd prefer the former as it's an all girls school. Can anyone let me know what either of these are like please and how likely it would be to be able to get a place for year 9? So confused as to what to do - my daughter currently goes to school in Fulham but says she hates it - however not sure if it will be better or worse at either of the schools in Belsize Park and worth the move.
Thanks so much for any advice given.

Why does she hate her school?
Will the problems travel with her?
My dds went to parliament Hill and did well (one had medical issues and supported well)
6thform is mixed

@cestlavielife - thanks for your message. We moved up from a holistic alternative school in Devon to London - so it's quite different and she used to love school, she does prefer London as a place though. Main issues are that she finds her classmates really rude and disruptive and she wants to learn but can't - she likes doing well and is really creative and pretty chilled and smart. She's shown me a few text threads from girls in her year swearing at and insulting her, which is not very nice to deal with daily and says she doesn't have any friends - her social life outside of school is non-existent apart from the drama club I take her to on the weekend, which she really likes the people in. Whats Parliament Hill generally like? and is it hard to get a place?

Camden School for Girls is often the top choice for girls in the area.

Population decline means there are spaces in a lot of schools in the area but you would need to check in with each school to be sure.

Parli Hill is much much more highly regarded locally than Haverstock. Although not perfect.

We’re closest to Haverstock and I would never ever send a child of mine there. I would rather homeschool. It has very low expectations of its pupils - a friend worked there for a while.

Unfortunately there weren’t any “outstanding” secondary schools in Camden last time I checked, but the “good” rating covers a very wide range.

Don't think Belsize Park is in the catchment for Camden School for Girls, how does it compare to Parliament?

You need to go visit them .
Get the vibe.
See if you can visit?

I wouldn't really recommend Camden Girls tbh. It's very cramped and the 6th form is incredible but not the lower school in my opinion. She may struggle there. Sounds like she would really love Parli. Their grounds back into the heath and it genuinely feels like you're in the countryside.
They have a very relaxed vibe, no uniform and restorative approach to behaviour so would be what your DD is used to from Devon. There is obviously some disruption but not in lessons.
I think she'd hate Haverstock from that description.
You need to just apply now, regardless of your address. Update Camden with your new address once you move and they'll adjust it but you never know with in year admissions, it is luck really and if anyone moves it will be now, end of y9. There isn't really much movement after that and every year at Parli is oversubscribed. My DDs year is actually 4 over PAN, so 5 kids would need to leave her year for the waiting list to move.

I've emailed both but just waiting to hear back as its half term :) Does anyone know though - do either offer drama at GCSE and is Parliament more 'liberal/alternative' than Camden?

@Foxesandsquirrels - oh wow - thanks so much for that information, yes Parliament Hill sounds like the one to me - feels more 'right'. How far away do you live from it? I'm wondering if 0.9 miles will be too far.

Parli is a lovely school! It is very mixed, and there is some challenging behaviour, which is dealt with holistically rather than via the 'zero tolerance' approach that is so popular these days. But they have a big cohort of high achievers who go on to get outcomes as good as they would have got anywhere, while also being able to actually enjoy their education. Very good and supportive with quirky girls who might struggle in a more conformist environment. And they have the Heath as their back garden, which makes it feel lovely and open. In my dd's cohort there were quite a few families who chose Parli over Camden, and none who regretted it as far as I know.

If you download this document and scroll to p. 52 it will tell you the cutoff distances for 2023 and 2024, which should give you an idea. I assume the 2025 figures are available somewhere, but don't know where. https://www.camden.gov.uk/documents/d/guest/secondary-schools-in-camden-admissions-guide-2025-web-final

Thanks so much @LarissaFeodorovna - I will make an application now in advance of seeing it - she is quirky and alternative, so it might be right for her.

Where you live doesn't matter for in year admissions, that is allocated based on the admissions criteria, where distance is one of various options. The 0.9m will be for the normal Y6-7 transfer which doesn't apply to you.

You can look up their KS4 curriculum on their websites. But yes both do drama. Parli is incredibly popular atm, more than Camden girls this year, as pp said a lot of people choose it over Camden Girls so you will be very very lucky if you get offered an in year space. However they are brilliant with integration, my DD joined outside the normal Y7 route a little bit broken and they really looked after her.
I wouldn't say either are more liberal than the other. Camden has always attracted a very posh intake though and competition is fierce for the music places. But Parli has a very similar cohort, just completely comprehensive. Both are surrounded by Camden housing estates next to £1.5mil+ houses so the intake is incredibly diverse. I cannot understate how cramped Camden girls is though.
I would be really really surprised if you get a space but if you don't try you won't know.
You should also put her name down for Fortismere, and Acland Burghley. Fortismere you need to apply with Haringey and Burghley is Camden. I suspect out of all 4, you are most likely to get a space at Burghley. It doesn't have the reputation of Parli or CSG, but it's not a bad school and is very liberal and non uniform, quite a lot of hippy dippy Devon in the half term type kids there too. Just a bit chaotic at times and less academic than the girls schools. Either way, a better choice than Haverstock.

OK thanks @Foxesandsquirrels - what is the criteria for in-year admissions then for Parliament? Just date when you applied for a place? Am severely hoping she would get a place over the others, but thanks for the alternative recommendations - I will check them all out.

Parli are a community school, not an academy etc so it's just the Camden one, just Google it. Camden admissions are good too.

Y9 you're presumably looking for someone to have left so there's an occasional place, so it'll be a bit random where she gets.

Burghley probably has a better local rep than Parli at the moment, but these things go up and down (except Haverstock, which stays down).

My DD is at Parli. It's definitely a popular choice at present but people move away from London and I know kids have joined later in the school.
Regarding ratings, Parli is outstanding, Camden got good on the last ofsted.
I don't know much about Haverstock other than it's not full but I don't think it's a top choice for a lot of people.
Re. Drama GCSE, Parli offer it and DDis taking it. I think there's a couple of classes in DD's year. She really likes the teacher too.
Parli isn't perfect but I would definitely recommend.

You may not want to say but which school is she in Fulham? Is it worth looking at others there? I can think of one that does Drama gcse and has quite a few ‘quirky and alternative’ girls.

@iamjuneosborne yes it is in Fulham - a girls school there - would be amazing if you could let me know the name of the other place you’re referring to please :)

I've sent you a PM

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but.... I see lots of parents saying they wouldn't send their child to Haverstock - can anyone give specifics. I am in a dead spot for secondary schools and didn't get any on our list and have a list of schools with places - Haverstock being one of them. I have not visited the school so can only go on research. I've read positive messages from parents whose children go there, but I've read much more negative things from other parents, who it seems children do not go there. What is so bad about it? The current Ofstead report is positive. Any insight would be helpful.

Thank you.