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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

N London 'Plan B' private schools.

28 replies

luceeannjay · 13/10/2025 18:35

Hi All
We currently live in N5. Closest state schools are Stoke Newington and Highbury Grove, which we would prefer our son did not go to. He is bright, but doesn't like being pushed too hard. He does have tutoring in preparation for Private / 11+.
Our current shortlist is NBH Canonbury (really like the small classes), Forest and Highgate. But we are really worried that if neither of these options come off he will end up in one of the state schools above.
2 questions -

  • Any views on how easy it will be to get into one of the three above? Particularly Canonbury - we know the others are v popular
  • Any suggestions of Private plan B options for other schools that we could shoot for if these three don't come off?
Big thanks
OP posts:
muminherts · 23/03/2026 15:59

So glad to hear this op! There are times when only a change will work and so pleased to hear things have improved.

Aislyn · 24/03/2026 16:51

luceeannjay · 23/03/2026 15:47

Hi Everyone.

Thought I would post an update, given lots has changed in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.
We moved our DS in January to Alleyn's Regent's Park. The main aim was to be confident that we had a non selective but decent secondary that took the pressure off our DS if he didn't want to do the 11+.
The upsides have been unexpected, essentially our DS is completely changed. Despite getting up much earlier, working harder and having homework M-Th he is much happier. The smaller class sizes, higher ambition levels, more mature learning is all really making a difference to his overall happiness.
Alleyn's have been wonderful, they have worked so hard to help him settle in - 1:1s with form tutor and head of year and ask to be a founding member of the leopard Gecko club!
Since joining he has played in 2 hockey matches and enjoyed it, which given he is not a sporty kid is a major achievement. Plus he's represented the school at chess...and lost badly but had fun :).
I could not speak more highly about the school overall. I have much clearer picture of his performance levels, they are guiding us through secondary choices based on capability and what would suit him best.
The curriculum including AIQ, proper science lessons and specialist teachers are all excellent. This makes me really interested in what they may be able to do with Alleyn's Hampstead as it becomes more selective over time.

Thanks

Lovely to hear.

Will you be considering NBH Canonbury for year 7?

Original poster
luceeannjay · 24/03/2026 21:24

Yes we will. I expect we will choose either NBH Canonbury or Alleyn’s Hampstead as certain options and then likely 1-2 others via 11+. We’ve got a good sense now of DS capability and which schools will academically suit.

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