Acland Burghley or Fortismere? Where else?

[FunBlueCritic]

We need to put in our secondary application for DS11 this month.
Acland Burghley and Fortismere are the two we liked at open days, but don't know anyone else with kids there. Any views?
Also, any other suggestions for a school that might suit a bright (but not particularly studious, artsy boy who hates sports would be very welcome.
Last year we would have got into Fortismere and AB on distance, but only just so need a backup!!

Have you looked at William Ellis? I know of a few boys there.
I know one set of parents more and they said yes school has been very supportive and they're happy with it.

I'm booked into an open morning next week, keen to see what it's like! Not sure about going for a boys school, but trying to go in with an open mind!

Acland Burghley is very artsy and creative. Lots to do as well as sport.

My eldest got into Fortismere but we declined and it does have an increasingly poor reputation - particularly around additional needs

@FKAT can I ask where you decided on instead? I haven’t heard the bad reports about fortismere

Five weeks in and we are very happy with Fortismere. DS has SEN and has been supported. Like all state schools they are tight on money and have to work with what they have but it is a good fit for us and I don’t have complaints. I certainly think that the statement about an increasingly bad reputation is very unfair and not what we have experienced at all. Their transition programme was very good too compared to other secondary schools we have heard about from other parents.

I've heard a few times about Fortismere's 'bad reputation' but never from actual parents at the school. It also continues to get good results, so I don't really understand it

Both Acland Burghley and Fortismere have 'good' Ofsted ratings. My DS was happy at Fortismere, did well and has just started a Russell Group university. SEN support was offered. Teaching was patchy, but often very good. Tutoring isn't universal, although my DS had a tutor for GCSE English language/literature (issue with writing from a young age). Tutoring is common in most London schools, including private and grammar schools.
If the poor reputation is about drugs, that's unfair, because drug use is in every secondary school, and it's no worse than any other.

I'm a current parent of 2 children at Fortismere, DD is almost finished. We’ve been disappointed all the way through with communication and support. Both kids have Send, youngest with an EHCP, and almost no support until I put in a formal complaint with the head of send in the borough. Somewhat better now but most staff really don’t ‘get’ send needs. Almost no trips and extracurriculars are spotty and not well supported. Now only one head and can see there is more of a vision and work towards it but a long way to go.

You cant be in the catchment for both?

If your child doesn’t have SEN, I think Fortismere is a good option. My child isn’t there but a lot of their friends are, and the only negative things I hear are from parents of child with SEN.

I am frequently in MH, and the kids at Fortismere seem nice. To be honest, they’re a calmer looking crowd than Ackland Burghley. Also, MH has a safer vibe than Tufnel Park. But I don’t know any children at Ackland Burghley, even though I have heard good things about it.

If I were choosing between the two, based on anecdotes and seeing the children as they exit the school, and the school grounds etc, I’d choose Fortismere.

Seems unusual to be in the catchment for both, though?

I can’t think of another, better option you’d be in catchment for in that case (assuming you must live around Highgate). William Ellis doesn’t have an amazing rep, nor does Highgate Wood.

I thought Highgate wood was getting much better @Clasaassa

Again, if you’re in the catchment for HW, you won’t also be for AB.

It might be - but I wouldn’t choose it over Fortismere. I only know one child who is there and their parents aren’t happy with it, but wanted a local option and their child is fine. So no ringing endorsement!

But seems unusual to be in catchment for all these schools, OP. Maybe check?

Thanks @Clasaassa I’m not actually the OP. But interested in both HW and fortismere. We’d definitely be out of ackland burghley catchment.

My child’s primary school fed both these two and APS. I see a lot of the parents / children often, even though they’re now year 8.

No one says any of the three are perfect! But APS gets the most ringing endorsement (but some of that is believing what you want to believe - many families moved specifically for this school), Fortismere parents seem fine with it - as long as their child doesn’t have SEN; and the one parent I see whose child is at Highgate Wood doesn’t consider it to be ideal, but their child is fine.