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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Agony over N London/N10 secondary schools

83 replies

boyngirl · 11/07/2009 08:59

Hi all

I'm new here but been obsessively reading posts on choosing secondary schools.

I will try v hard not to be too boring about this as I know it's been asked/discussed 8 billion times. I would love some opinions on what type of schools to opt for, especially from Muswell Hillies.

My son (don't know all the abbrievs, sorry) is only 7 but we're having to think about secondary schools as we've got house on market (just want bigger property, that was motivation for moving).

I live in borough of Barnet at the mo where there are great schools, selective, private and state. BUT don't know if want son to go through all the hideous tutoring/exams business (he is v bright but who knows how bright compared to others and he might be a thicko by the time he's 10!!) - one school boasts 3000 kids going for 24 selective places. I mean, pressure or what? Plus don't want to live on doorstep of these schools as we don't really like the areas (not a snobby thing, honest, they are nice but just not us). Then there's private schools - fine but we'd be skint for next 8 years. And 'private' isn't necessarily a magic wand I guess.

ANYWAY (boring myself now)we really like the sound of Fortismere in N10. We've lots of mates in Muswell Hill and like the liberal sound of the school (we are the ghastly media types some of you speak of with a shudder - quite rightly) and it's got quite good results. But not as good as loads of schools in Barnet. I'm concerned I'll do my son a disservice by not sending him to the 'best of the best' if he is v clever.
He's a sensitive but fun-loving type of boy. His current primary school is fantastic, he's gained lots of confidence (he was really shy when he started) and lots of pals.

Do any of you have kids at Fortismere or know it really well and if we move to Mus and he doesn't get in or we decide against it what alternatives are there eg good other state school, grammar or even priavate?

Thanks for reading this!!

Boyngirl

OP posts:

missile5 · 14/07/2009 19:21

So you only want private or Grammer. Why did you choose Watford before QE.

TDiddy · 14/07/2009 19:27

That isn't the preferred order. I only want a good school, don't care whether state, private, religious. And it would be nice not to pay.

WG is an interesting one. It only selects 20pc of it's intake and look at the results. Not as good as QE but very very good considering. Great music dept. Fantastic maths and science, good sports and the children are very welcolimg and have a great time. And WG girls are nearby- very important IMO.

thoughts?

missile5 · 14/07/2009 20:06

WG - I haven't been to visit as I do not live in one of their preferred postcodes so therefore cannot apply. Remember as the intake is only 20% selection the results can go down as well as up. Most probably not a bad choice. Try the Wren open evening and see what you think.

Original poster

boyngirl · 14/07/2009 20:22

I'm going to go to all the open eves I can in Sep - particularly Wren, fortismere,Dame Alice Owen. I know QE is brilliant school but it's not for me/my dc. I think I want more of an all rounded experience for 'em and I want them to be at same school ideally. I might as well pick some off since it's a hard enough decision as it is!

King Alfred would def be my favourite private choice, I had friends that went there (20 years ago) and loved it.

But if we lived in Mus then it would be a ridiculous journey. Mus is a crazy choice in lots of ways because we only give ourselves 1 or 2 good options.

OP posts:

missile5 · 14/07/2009 20:45

Good decision.

TDiddy · 14/07/2009 20:45

Will try Wren but it is a bit of commute. I am in Northwood (Met line land)

boyngirl- you DC is only 6. There is a hint of you choosing the school for you more than for the DC? Sorry but I think we now know each other well enough for me to say so as a froend . If he is academic and you live near QE then he could have a brill life. I went to a QE open day and the boys seemd to be having fun and there was a good social and economic diversity. The orchestras were fab.

Original poster

boyngirl · 15/07/2009 10:48

TDiddy - yeah there may be a hint of that, fair point!! that's why determined to look at schools and think what's best for dc - but us equally. Our quality of life and happiness is as important as theirs.

OP posts:

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 14:56

Agreed. It is easy to see what you want to see and fudge the answer accordingly IYWIM. I say this in respect of QE as you said that he is academic and you said that it is important to live near to school (which i agree with). Based on those two facts alone and distant observer would say that you should give QE a longer harder look. But then you say that you are not going to the open day.

I am not saying this to be rude or intrusive but just ahonest thoughts that crossed my mind and in the context of the spirit of the chat that we are having.

On paper I would say that you should consider building like minded friendship group right where you are. And Mussy Hill isn't that far away. I also say that in the context of someone who spent loads of cash moving a couple years ago but might have been better off keeping options open.

missile5 · 15/07/2009 15:06

The other concern I have with QE is that most of the children attending do not live that near to the school, so socially outside of school there is not much contact between new friendships.

TDiddy what end of year marks did your son get (if you don't mind me asking). Just trying to see what sort of levels I would need to be applying for QE if we decide we want to go down that road, my son got maths 5b reading 5+ and writing 4c

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 15:21

I will find out exactly and post when i get back home. Are you talking about SATs or the school's in house exams? I have never heard any mention of the SATs as they seem to focus on the in-house exams.

When I visited QE the head boy showed me round and I got the impression that there were quite a few that travelled but quite a few local as well. Lots of after school clubs as well. Same for any good school like St Pauls

Original poster

boyngirl · 15/07/2009 16:08

I don't think you're being rude.
One of the main problems is how young he is so whether academic or not in 3 years who knows. Which goes back to your point of giving it more time and not rushing into moving until we are more convinced.
But I still don't like the sound of QE for lots of reasons. If I have instincts about anything, it's that. I don't mean to be rude either, as it's a school you're interested in but there are selective schools eg DAOwen that appeal more if we going down that route.

OP posts:

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 16:48

Isn't DA Owen for girls? If I am not paying school fees and send my DS to QE, then I would be happy to invest time and money in making sure that his activities etc outside school give him the whole package. It is when I pay that i look for more perfection. From experience and talking to teachers you should have a fairly reliable indication of if your son will do well academically. Actually, the nursery carers were on to it since my son was one year old. And he is not a genius. Things like his concenrtation span, interest and curiosity in how things in the world work. It is also scary that that the children who were doing well in reception are the same ones shining now. Part of that is due to the powerful effect of positive feedback esp on a child with reasonable ability. It is scary how we don't realise that we are moulding our children with all our interactio, setting expectations.

missile5 · 15/07/2009 18:14

TDiddy - The tests are from the year 5 QCA optional test papers that they do in school. My ds goes to a state primary, i'm not sure if it is the same for independant. The writing has been taken by looking at his writing during the year. He might have got an even higher mark if they would have given him a writing test at the end of the year. The school does not set homework but we are supposed to do the times tables, children should read for 10 mins per night and they have about 10 spellings a week to learn. Not too concerned about homework as he has been going to a tutor for the last few months as he was starting to get a little bored at school.

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 18:26

Okay missile- will have a look. I will be working quite late tonight so will be tmmrrw. If your son is in say top 5 in his class then i would guess that he has a good shout. If it is a very comeptitive school/class then top 10 and some prep should stand a chance. Just guessing here.

frogs · 15/07/2009 19:04

DAO is a mixed school as is Latymer, QE is boys only.

Check out the 11+ exams website forums if you want the lowdown on Herts/Barnet selective schools, but be warned there are some keraazy obsessive people on there.

missile5 · 15/07/2009 19:27

Think i'll keep away from that website my favourite is Wren with QE as a possibility. Still not convinced ds needs to be in an army camp to achieve.

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 19:27

thanks Frogs- what is Latymer like? I wished more of the independent schools were mixed; atleast for my son's sake as i know girls do better without boys

missile5 · 15/07/2009 21:40

TDiddyIsaMan- Wren is a mixed school but with maths and english split into single sex groups.

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 22:00

good way of doing it. I spent most of my adolescence/teenage years think about the girls at my school so i feel terrible denying my DS that joy

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 22:02

boyngirl- just noticed that you want more space. Is an extension out of the question? Given youyr location it could pay off in the long term

missile5 · 15/07/2009 22:07

All the stress of moving on all of the family can't be very good either.

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 22:10

Also need to be careful that you don't move for one DC and then find that get stuck with few options for second DC. North/North West London has good options for both sexes

missile5 · 15/07/2009 22:39

Mill Hill County High is another excellent option. mixed comprehensive.

TDiddyIsaMan · 15/07/2009 22:41

you guys are spolit for choice. Watford Grammar and QE are the only state ones that I think are within range and doing well enough from my bit of NW london. But i must explore further

missile5 · 15/07/2009 22:54

Mill Hill take 10% on selection 10% on music and 5% on dance the rest on siblings and catchment.

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