Homework, start times and transport at Westminster/City/Highgate/UCS

[ReadySteadyTeddy1]

Hello. I’m just trying to gather some information on the top secondary schools we’re considering for my Y5 DS, and was wondering if any current parents - or anyone in the know- might be able to help.
we’re based in Hampstead, so will be looking at a combination of factors when applying to schools.
If anyone could help by telling me a bit about the following at any one of Westminster/ Highgate/ UCS/City it would be really helpful!

Morning start times (when would DS have to be on site)

transport options: Do any of them have a mini bus service or similar, or is it all just making your own way there at secondary?

Homework: approximately how much per night from the start of the school and how this increases as you go up the school. Basically will there be any relaxation time at the end of the day?

Bonus points for any thoughts on pastoral care!
Thanks so much to anyone who can help

Bump in case anyone can help…

Things like start time and homework policy become immaterial when you launch into the 11 plus process, it’s brutal. The fees at Westminster are worth considering when making a decision on whether to apply.

I suggest you think about things in details when you have offers to the school. Prior to that, apply to the ones you like that your dc can get to in reasonable time (for example none more than one hour away). After the 11+ you might only need to look at a couple schools in such detail. Of course some are lucky and get into all, but some get into none! You just never know which schools you will get into.

UCS: Direct knowledge as I have two there (Y9 and Y13). Y9 DS arrives 8.20-8.30 to see his friends. I think registration is at 8.40 or 8.45. No school buses. My two walk 10 min from our Hampstead home and have lots of local friends. Others use Finchley Rd & Frognal Overground or Hampstead Underground. Local buses on Finchley Rd too, no doubt. Homework about 1 hour per night at the younger end. Will obviously build closer to exams and my sixth-former is currently in eyeballs-out mode as you would expect, with A levels 2 months away. Neither has found the academic load to be burdensome generally. Pastoral care has been good when needed, but has hardly been needed.

Highgate: Friends’ DC go there and are happy. Traffic between Hampstead and Highgate is a problem at peak times. They run an ever-expanding bus network: https://www.highgateschool.org.uk/useful-information/travelling-to-school/

Westminster: I went there, long ago, as a sixth-former. Travelled by Tube from Hampstead. I don’t think they run school buses, though some families may club together for minibuses. The vast majority will use public transport. Info about the school day is online so you don’t need to rely on my outdated experience: https://www.westminster.org.uk/school-life/the-school-day-2/ The workload for 4 A-levels was insane at 6th form level, but at least it made Oxford feel like a holiday camp!

City Boys’: Friends’ DC go there. I think they start around 8.45. Don’t know much else, sorry.

Thank you so much for your replies. I’m really grateful.

@sailingsunshine Yes very much aware of the (eye watering) Westminster fees. They would be manageable, but only want to commit to the gruelling 11+ process for the ultra competitive schools if the day-to-day on the other side of it feels worthwhile and not too onerous for DS.

@Springtoday Yes of course we’re also very aware (and have emphasised to DS) that at the most academically high achieving schools it does become a bit of a lottery at a certain point, and in no way a reflection of his ultimate potential or intelligence. There is a certain amount of general prep that goes into 11+, but I wanted to do my due diligence in terms of which of the ultra competitive schools would really be worth the extra exams/ extra prep/ extra stress. No point in going through the process if for example there’s two hours of homework at the end of the night at Westminster from the start, on top of a 45 minute-ish commute (speculating wildly here!) Hence the pretty granular questions around start time etc. Hope that makes sense!

@JessyCarr Thank you so much. This is exactly what I wanted to find out, and hugely helpful! Thank you for putting that all down for me. Sorry I hadn’t spotted the online school day information for some reason! My omission. Will go through it all and do some mental maths.

Really fantastic to hear that your UCS experience has been positive. I really like the school from the outside, and the boys I’ve come across in other contexts have been really lovely.

Thank you again for the help everyone. Massively appreciated.

Very happy to hear any other general thoughts about any of these schools if any current parents are moved to add anything (Eg City/ Highgate.) I’m definitely also wondering about geographical spread of friends- UCS would be the most ‘local’ for sure, but I imagine a fair few NW london kids at all of the above…

Just an FYI - I think many of the dc aiming for Westminster do 1-2 hours daily prep for the 11+ with more hours over the weekend. I know people that have kids there, at St Pauls, SPGS etc. Also, it is relative. Many do extra work on top of the homework. My dc are different, as we are very laid back. But they tell me of friends who have extra tutor sessions and they do extra work. Mine just do what the school gives. I hope that is enough 😅My dc are at G&L and LU. I dont see them spending much time on homework. But they claim to do some on the bus or at school. They had glowing reports, so they must have figured out how to get it done efficiently.

OP, you say you only want to commit to the 11+ process if it isn’t going to be too onerous - but surely now, more than halfway through Y5, you are either committed to it or not. How is your DS getting on with his preparation so far? Have you had an assessment from his prep and/or an experienced local tutor as to whether he is on track for these schools?

@Springtoday @JessyCarr So DS’s current school have suggested these schools as realistic targets for him. He’s naturally bright and curious, and also naturally diligent, and I think would do well in an environment with some academic stretch and other kids who enjoy an intellectual challenge. But at the same time our family life is important to us and I don’t want to end up in a situation where we barely see DS, between commutes and homework. Which is why I thought I’d do some digging before filling out the application forms.

I don’t think it’s a question of either/or in terms of the 11+. Every extra school applied for means another exam, different kinds of questions, potentially another interview day. As well as of course more prep at school and at home nearer the time. So it’s not worth going into all of that without a full investigation of each school and whether we feel like each one would be a good fit overall.

The answers I’ve been given have already been extremely helpful, so thank you for the contributions!

@Springtoday Your kids sound delightful! I hope that one day mine just might end up in a similarly well matched environment for them. My niece and nephew are at LU and it’s such a great school.

I think there is a good chance yours will if you do the right amount of 11+ prep. We were quite laid back with it so dc ended up in the right schools for them. They really enjoy the classes, made lots of friends and feel no pressure. They still have the time to do their activities outside of school (and they are involved within the school). I think the ones that end up in the wrong school are the ones that get tutored like crazy and over prep for the 11+. But also, these children seem to just keep up with the additional tutoring and work. I assume parents are targeting Oxbridge/Ivies if they are still tutoring multiple times a week when in secondary.

Westminster is particularly hard to get into. The second round exam itself was not the most challenging, however the numbers do not work in your favour. Their external intake is tiny - I think you’re looking at 30-40 places out of hundreds of applicants who are all very bright and well prepared. The school is highly academic.
I would say you still have time, if the child is committed and driven and you run a tight/consistent prep schedule.
The summer break is where you need to stay strong, that’s where many get lost.
In our circle is the ones who did not go away on
holiday or just went for a small break that had success with the very selective schools.

City starts at 8.45 but the key door closes at 8.40. Finishes at 4. I don’t find homework oppressive. No school bus service but it is surrounded by tubes and trains. Boys come from all over inc Hampstead. We have been happy with pastoral care so far.

For impact on family life do check weekend sporting expectations too. City does sports matches during the week. Westminster upper still has Saturday school I believe.

@challengeAcceptedd Thanks for your message. Yes absolutely Westminster is one of the schools people would be silly to bank on (especially now it’s gone co-ed. The numbers are absolutely not in anyone’s favour!) We will be applying to one or two less traditionally competitive options as well.
@ATaleOf2Cities Thank you so much that’s very useful info! Also great to hear positive things about the pastoral care at City. Always an important consideration. I’ll look into weekend sports (although I doubt DS would be involved in the more competitive team sports. He’s got some sporting strengths but definitely not the kind that involves matches at weekends! Although you never know. Things can change over time…)

On weekend sport it is worth asking the schools how many teams they put out
as it might be more than you think. Eg City were often sending out 5-6 football teams in first form against other schools which I was pleasantly surprised to see, so pretty much anyone who wanted to play got to.

Westminster has boarding so worth understanding ratios of boarders to day and how far that shapes the school day. We didn’t apply there or the others you mention so have no inside info.