St Albans Vs Channing

Independent Schools as an alternative to Grammar

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kmc
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:01 am

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by kmc »

Thanks mad, DG, Kingfisher, fairy elephant. It's good to know your views. On the league tables, St Albans is just one step below Habs and is up and coming school. Dd is sporty and plays range of sports, St Albans looks like a perfect school. Had the coach journey been not so long I would have no hesitation to send dd there and I think she would enjoy it too. But I am gearing more towards Channing as its question of seven years and as they get older they will have more homework and journey matters. fairyelephant, what's the homework like at Channing?
fairyelephant
Posts: 588
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:59 am
Location: N London

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by fairyelephant »

Hi kmc. Homework in year 7 is about an hour a night, sometimes more. Usually an exercise consolidating class learning or revising for a test. Usually able to view tasks on firefly on school iPad, also they have a homework diary which you should sign weekly. Homework has increased slightly now DD is in year 9 but still doable along with after school activities (in and out of school). Girls have lots of guidance in year 7 about how to manage homework, how to revise for a test etc.

There might be an offer holders open day you can go to for both schools to finally make up your mind. I have a fairly academic DD, for us however the criteria were locality, small and nurturing, totally different for DS. We have been impressed at how well DD has been taught and stretched. Let us know what you decide. Pm me if you want any more specific info.
kmc
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:01 am

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by kmc »

Thanks fairyelephant. That seems like a reasonable amount of homework for a secondary school. Good to know that your dd can enjoy after school activities at year 9 and she is happy. I am going to ask about the offer holders morning, as Channing hasn't mentioned anything about in their offer letter. St Helens have one and St Albans are happy to organise one for us, so something to decide next week. Never thought 11 plus would be so stressful towards the end :D :) I will let you know whatever we decide and thanks for all your input.
2Girlsmum
Posts: 1034
Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:41 pm

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by 2Girlsmum »

Just another point to add.

Our DD's are at St Michael's (a v.g. catholic state grammar school in North Finchley). It has no catchment, but parents are reasonably responsible there about travel times. As a result their friends live all over North London within 40 minutes of the school on public transport. Unfortunately however, it means that there are often long return trips by car and public transport when they visit friends as the school is a bit like the centre of a wheel, and journey times across London can be more. Last week DH spent over 4 hours in the car driving DD1 return and back (twice for him) to a party on the Saturday. This week I spent almost the same time dropping DD2 off (two return trips for me) for a sleepover in Burnt Oak. If Channing is relatively close to you,and you are unsure about which is the best choice, then please factor in how she will socialise and cope with after school clubs. They are all great schools!
Last edited by 2Girlsmum on Sat Feb 20, 2016 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
kmc
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:01 am

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by kmc »

Thanks 2Girlsmum, that's a good point. Congratulations to you for having both the girls at St Michael's. I know about that school. Unfortunately we couldn't apply because we are not Catholic. I do remember ringing them couple of years back. I am aware that socializing outside school can be difficult at St Albans, as girls are mostly from North and drop off and pick ups can be a slight trouble. Although the only advantage is that coaches go right up from the road near me to St Albans school with an hour journey. Whereas Channing is easily managed on tubes and buses and also a possibility of a drop off by me. Will be deciding after visiting them both next week.
coolmum123
Posts: 271
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:18 pm

Re: St Albans Vs Channing

Post by coolmum123 »

I would think seriously about the journey times. If you have a public transport option then that is a very good option to have. My DD goes by coach and the coach stop is up the road, on paper the journey should take her 1/2 hour but there have been many times when it's taken much longer because of the traffic. This eats into time you have to get homework done so then later bedtimes. If your DD misses her coach - how is she going to get home? If you are picking her up chances are you will hit traffic both ways.
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