Islington/Camden/Haringey school thoughts?

[TheCosyRedAnt]

We're currently looking at secondary schools for our DD and finding ourselves on the border of various schools furthest distances. Would love to hear about any experiences you have of the following schools

Fortismere
Highgate Wood School
Hornsey School for Girls
Greig City Academy

Parliament Hill
Camden School for Girls

Highbury Fields School
St Mary Magdalene Academy
City of London Academy Highbury Grove

What do you like/dislike about the schools? Are the kids happy and kind? How is the pastoral care? How is the teaching and behaviour management? Are kids challenged/supported academically? How is communication between the school and parents? Is it well led and managed? Is there much teacher movement? Are there good clubs? Does it value music, art, drama, DT, PE etc as much as english, maths, science etc? Please share any feedback, thank you.

Nope, nothing on Hornsey! Would love to hear reviews..

Not recommended.

Fair, although I would say Highgate Wood's results are much higher than Greig City's based on stats on gov.uk

That's nice to hear. Was it quite focused and good with behaviour, and did he get good results? The sailing club is an impressive offering!

Very good with behaviour from my experience. Yes there may be rowdiness from students after school's out, however I cannot fault school for crowd control and behaviour management within the school. No school fights in all the two years ds was there. This was a real problem at my friend's daughters school.
Tecahers stand at the gate and nearby bus stop to supervise students at home time.

Yes ds left with excellent grades and went on to a great college.

Sorry to intrude on OP’s post but I wondered how you’ve found Acland Burghley? My son is in year 6 and sadly didn’t score highly enough on the Mary Mags test which we really liked so is most likely going to Burghley. I would say he‘s academic (but can be a bit lazy so needs a bit of a push) and is very into sports and drama. People seem to have strong views about Burghley either way so would love any insights you don’t mind sharing!

@Frazzlelover I have two kids at Burghley. We've found it to be an exceptional school which has done a great job of catering to their very different personalities, strengths and interests. Teaching is excellent, where there have been occasional problems they've been managed swiftly and effectively by the senior team. Drama provision is strong (my eldest did the GCSE and Lamda). The OAE also runs an amazing club teaching kids audio and video production via their professional performances. Neither of mine are sporty but there are lots of opportunities in everything from football, rugby, basketball, netball, trampolining, dance, cross country, even rowing at one point. In our experience it's the kind of school where you can be anyone you want to be and find your niche/tribe. My kids have broad friendship groups, all lovely kids. Teachers genuinely care about the individual. Communications to parents is solid. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions.

In terms of academics CSG is the strongest by far, probably followed by Mary Mags and Parli.

I'd say Fortismere and Acland Burghley are really similar. Both have a real mix of pupils whose families are very committed to education and active within the schools, but also a fair number of disruptive kids and the associated problems that brings. Teaching can be hit and miss, and a number of kids will be externally tutored to make up the gaps.

Highgate Wood is similar. Perhaps a reputation for being a little 'rougher', possibly purely because a lot of families locally opt for private or APS.

Not sure about the others on the list.

Thanks so much, that’s really positive to hear and very helpful

Fortismere is due to be rebuilt next year

That's a terrific list of schools you have there!

My DDs go to HF, and I agree it is underrated. I'm surprised someone said they didn't think it suited a quirky girl, because I know quirky girls who are thriving there, and there seems to be less "teen" pressure. And given that its intake isn't selective and includes girls from a wide range of economic and ethnic backgrounds, it has in some years recorded higher GCSEs than Mary Mags, which is widely seen as more academic. It also has a higher progress score.

(Not to knock Mary Mags, which is terrific, but I can never figure out why it's seen as the holy grail, especially for girls.)

HF's site is not great, though, in comparison to, say, Parli's, which is absolutely amazing.

You ask whether any of the schools value DT, PE, art, etc. as much as English, science, maths, etc. I can't imagine that's true of any in-demand state secondary school in London, tbh, at least not any one I know of.

Camden has a lot of respect for art and textiles, not so much for PE or DT.

My DD went to Hornsey and if we had our time again we'd have sent her to Greig, because it really supports and promotes vocational activities and kids are thriving there under the new head. Hornsey meanwhile has gone from seven-form entry to just three in a matter of years and its exam results have dropped too. SEN support used to be great until key staff left and the teacher turnover has always been very high. There's also the fact the entire school needs to be rebuilt because of RAAC.

hsg.haringey.sch.uk/2881/dfe-confirm-full-school-rebuild