Do we move to a more academic school? North London

[Quackedout]

DD going into Y5 and many people we know are considering the 11 plus or else doing it now. Im feeling the pressure of whether to go for more academic schools. DD is happy and towards top of class/at top for many subjects. Commute is easy. Through school so no pressure.

Options would be going for any on the North London consortium, NLCS, Habs. All would involve more commuting costs, and ive heard negative feedback about level of pressure.

Im worried that I might be in an ok situation then throw a bomb into the works because 'everyone else is trying'

Do you feel that the teaching in her current school (at secondary stage) will be inspiring and challenging and effective, and that she will have every opportunity to achieve the grades she's capable of achieving? Will she have sufficient peers working at her level to keep her motivated?

Would she prefer to be around the top of a mixed cohort, or somewhere in the middle/low end of a very high achieving cohort? Would the latter inspire her or demoralise her?

My DD is at a super-selective grammar (not London) and is happy and doing well, but I'm conscious that she doesn't get as much praise/affirmation from her teachers as some of her friends at comprehensive schools. It's very difficult to stand out to that extent within a cohort of high achievers. You either achieve top grades or feel a failure.

What school does she go to now? And are you considering just private or grammar too? The prep journey can be very different. We are in a GDST school and doing the 11+ but happy that we have a ‘default’ option which is quite sought after. The pressure is lower than trying with no in-hand option.
if her current school will have 11+ intake then those children will have been through the 11+ and will enter at a higher level. So it helps doing 11+.

If you're DD is going into Year 5 and you haven't started yet I'd be inclined to say you are too late to apply to Habs, NCLS etc because people applying to those schools would have had tutoring throughout since starting in Year 1. They are VERY competitive and she would be sitting the exam this time next year.

If you're happy where you are then put her through the 11+ but at a gentle pace with no expectation of getting in since the odds are low. The experience will give her good practise for the exam pressure which starts to build up in Year 7.

Are you willing to say which school it is? I think I can guess but like many on here it’s likely my advice would be different depending on the school.

But more generally, different schools suit different children. Pushy schools work well for some children but they absolutely do not work for others. If the teaching is good, and the style and method of teaching suits your child, then I wouldn’t rock the boat. I believe children need to be happy to thrive. However that is a very general point. As I say, you may wish to name the school to get proper advice from people who might have been in the same situation as you.

Top sets in a good comprehensive in London will do a great job of getting motivated kids through their exams.

if you have good local schools I would be ok with that (was actually ok with that:Dc did very well indeed)

@Hatscarfgloves I can pm you as I dont want to share the school here

This. In a good comprehensive in London a swathe of kids every year will be getting a raft of A's (and then top unis after 6th form). In my experience good comprehensives here have lots of really engaged parents and lots of really bright kids.

I totally get your worry, as it feels very arms race-y! I would go and visit your local and quiz them, but also visit the selective you mentioned but doing the commute your child would do. I did that and doing the train ride and then the 15 mins walk from the station it hit me like a thunderbolt how lucky we were to have something v good on our doorstep and what a nonsense it would be to start them commuting age 11 when in all likelihood they could get great grades at the local school (with more time and energy for out of school activities and seeing friends!).

We've started at the local comp now and no regrets - they've found a little crew of like-minded kids. They're predicted a run of A's. They're able to meet-up without needing parent taxis.

(Although - this does mean that a key question for you maybe is, who is your child likely to make friends with in the local high school? Admittedly the staying local strategy does not work so well if you have a child who might fancy looking for trouble...)

@Ickabod so we are currently in a non academic private school

My dc moved from a small friendly non academic north London private to a bigger more competitive one at 11+. They did tutoring but only for 4 months before the exam. I reckon if they need more than that, the competitive school is not the right one.

they love the bigger school and it has many more options for GCSEs and clubs etc. but the small school was also lovely and the kids who stayed thrived too.

go for what’s works for your family.

Ha! Sorry, I fairly missed the point there...

In that case though, even more so I wouldn't move them if they're happy and doing well academically. There's so much value for the kids I think in knowing the place well, having it close by, having a cohort of buddies they've known since they were little is a wonderful thing! I'd imagine for social development staying put is very likely the better option. For academic development, so long as they're working well (which it sounds like they are) then I'd imagine they could score all their top grades right where they are? Additionally, for many kids it is better for their confidence and well-being to have that feeling of being in the 'top crew' (rather than being surrounded by aces at Habs etc). But this is personality-specific - some kids really thrive on the competition in an all-academic environment. I think in your position (I'm guessing the school) I'd only move (I) if your child would really enjoy a lot of academic competition or (I) if you're not happy with the cohort that's likely to stick through to the high school (i.e. you're not sure about their friendship group)

I moved at 11 from a less academic North London private school to a more academic one. I think I moved because I found the pace slow and boring and the school unambitious. We moved our DD1 out of the state system at 11 for similar reasons. If that's her experience then I'd move her - 7 years is too long to be bored for.

If, on the other hand, it is pitched about right at present and a good handful of her academic peers will stay on with her, then I'd stay. You know how academic she is. It's not much fun being at the bottom of a more selective school, compared to being at the top of a less selective school, if you think that would be her experience then don't move her.

Admittedly, most selective schools that start at 4, the weaker students in the senior school will have come from their own junior school.

@Ickabod thank you for that post, all those staying on are not academic, most coming in now are not academic. Pastorally excellent. Very few achieve 8/9s but again, small school. But yes, i need to think about the benefits of being one/the top in a school like this.

We went the north London comprehensive route and have no regrets. Kids ended up with the same grades and same unis and now same grad jobs as the Habs / City / UCS kids. No regrets and way more money in our pockets

You do not need to have been tutoring since year 1. Habs etc are perfectly accessible for smart kids with 18 months tutoring from a tutor who know the drill inside out.

I suppose it depends on a number of factors - how much the fees will be a stretch, how academic your DC is (a bit hard to judge in year 5 tbf) and what co-curricular elements are important to you/her. Broadly, you're probably going to get better sport/music/art/drama provision in private schools.

It also depends on the school. With North London Consortium schools, not sure Channing or Queens College are worth the money over Camden or Parliament Hill. But if you are comparing Highgate to Acland Burghley or Highgate Wood, yes it's going to be worth it.

If you want super-academic grammar then you could also look at Henrietta Barnett.

@pollypocketdoll what about South Hampstead?

@Quackedout - hear very good things about South Hampstead, and I actually vaguely know one of the teachers there who is also great. They get really decent results.

On the negative side, it is quite cramped for a private school, and it might not suit shy/retiring types all that well!

And NLCS?

High staff turnover is a strong indicator of poor institutional health, and a serious concerns about educational quality. Queen's College, London is one of them. FYI. Any other ideas?