Sixth form schools in Camden and Westminster

[Leeloo13]

Hello all...
Soon my son, must choose a Sixth form school....and we need some recommendations for a good one around Camden, Westminster area...we are thinking of Harris Westminster but they have 4 A levels and I'm thinking maybe it's too much.... thank you

Harris Westminster is very academic as you say
and difficult to get into.

Camden School for Girls is very highly rated. Also Marylebone school is recommended by friends.

What A levels would your DC like to study?

Personally I think 4 A levels is too much, and not needed. If a school wishes to teach a broader curriculum at that level they should move away from A levels. So I wouldn’t go near a forced 4 A level college. It makes me think the benefit is bragging rights of the school rather than a benefit to the child.

Is Woodhouse in Finchley too far?

St Mary Magdalene although it’s just in Islington.

St Marylebone Girls

La Swap sixth form

@Camdenish - my eldest did four and it was fine. At his school their attitude was that starting out on four gives kids the chance not to restrict themselves in one direction, to see how they cope with the 'leap' from GCSE to A-level in certain subjects, and to be able to choose what they love. I liked this - it meant my DC could choose an interesting combination of subjects that he enjoyed.

One of them was art - his later offer from Oxbridge actually excluded art! But he carried on with it because he enjoyed it so much, and ended up with a really impressive set of results (not a stealth boast, but just explaining that the workload of four isn't necessarily overwhelming).

He was at a highly academic, selective school though, so it could be too much for some. I think about a third of the year did drop their fourth at the end of year 12, but I think it's a good opportunity not to commit yourself to three subjects too early.

All of those are equally as hard to get into. Harris Westminster has a lot more working class kids attending than the other two

My DS had an offer from CSG where the grade expectation was reasonable, turned down by Harris, it’s highly selective.

My DS had an offer from CSG where the grade expectation was reasonable, turned down by Harris, it’s highly selective.

My daughter went to Camden school for girls sixth form.. she’s now at Cambridge
My son is currently there (sixth form is mixed) He is doing well. I totally recommend it

What are the predicted GCSE grades, or do they already have them? There are lots of sixth form only colleges in London which your son will have easy commuting access to.

Lots and lots of kids ger turned down by CSG every year, just like they do at Harris. They are equally selective, just for different reasons.

I think a fair few at CSG do four a-levels, as at Woodhouse.

Yh it's unusual to start with 3 A Levels at these schools. APS also makes you take 4 A Levels. Even at the very selective schools, they usually end up dropping the 4th at the end of Y12.

The process is much more selective for Harris Westminster - exams and interview(s). Camden just requires an application with A level choices and confirmed home address, provided you meet the minimum threshold of 6 x 7s at GCSE you will be considered. Then it’s down to space on course and distance. (So some do get turned down for popular A level choices.) Harris Westminster select beyond the 6 x 7s minimum by using their in house exam and interviews.

The shine has also come off CSG a bit since Parliament Hill got an outstanding ofsted, to Camden’s good.

You have to be quite a motivated parent/student to go through the Harris Westminster process. Harris can select more academically able students, whereas the Camden process doesn’t allow that once the minimum is met.

I think they’re both excellent schools but Harris Westminster is more selective and more competitive to get into.

Tbh the CSG main school has never been that great. The 6th form is in a league of it's own and attracts a completely different student to Harris. Its very difficult to get into CSG 6th form even without internal exams. You could argue that Harris gives you more opportunities to get in than CSG. So many kids with the grades get turned down by CSG every year.

For Camden the 6x7s @ GCSE are if you want to do 4 A-levels, requirements are less for 3.

Yup, Camden asks for 5x 6 including English Language and maths, but the child also has to get particular marks in subjects they want to study, or are adjacent to subjects they want to study.

Any thoughts on Woodhouse or St Mary Magdalene sixth form?

And a lot of kids with those grades are turned away. Honestly I think Harris is more accessible because their admissions is so much more transparent. It's difficult to figure out what gets you a place at CSG. It is, and has always been filled with very middle class kids though. It's chalk and cheese to Harris in terms of demographic and type of child. I also feel Harris is much more STEM focused. CSG is brilliant for the Arts and is one of very few state schools offering history of art.

Marylebone the girls school near Baker street or the boys school?

https://stmarylebone.school/admissions/year-12-admissions/

This one - it’s mixed for sixth form and a friend’s dc has been very happy there (they’re not religious).

We've been to an open day to LaSwap and he didn't like...
Woodhouse seems a bit far away; I'll have a look at Mary Magdalene

He is not sure yet,what he wants but..he says maybe English, History, French and Music..he is playing guitar,and doing GCSE Music.... although he is good in Maths and science he says he is not interested in taking any at A levels

I heard about this possibility, to drop a subject..Is it possible to drop at Harris Westminster?

You'd have to check with Harris, should be on their website somewhere. I'm sure there will be kids that drop it at the end of y12, even if they technically can't.
I would also look at their timetable. You're expected in school from quite early until late, there's compulsory subject specific labs, Saturday school and the free periods are supervised. It's a very very different 6th form experience to CSG, Woodhouse, LaSwap etc. and I don't mean just the demographics. It's more in line with somewhere like Brampton Manor, the LAE schools etc in terms of timetable and work expectations. They publish their y11-y12 transition work as well, it's on their website so have a look at those.

If he's thinking of music then CSG and St M's should be high on the list.

I agree. I would lean towards CSG as it sounds more local than StM and music is very strong. They have a 6th form orchestral music programme which you can audition for. 15 spaces are given and those people get a space regardless of distance. There's also a very healthy number of boys there that take humanities. LAET is also very academic and sponsored by Highgate, lots of Highgate teachers teach there and their music is strong too.

@Leeloo13 just be mindful the open evening/ day bookings for CSG gets booked up almost immediately after being released so keep an eye on the website.