11 Plus Exams Forum

Help!
I've just found out that DD has had a place at SHHS - she was on the waiting list. We were all set up to send her to Habs Girls, she was very happy about it. Our main misgiving was the distance - we live in NW London so SHHS is much much closer. DD is sporty and outgoing, we felt she would be a good fit for Habs but now I'm wondering whether SHHS would be better, being that much closer, and similar in terms of facilities/ feel?
Would be very grateful for any advice, I thought we had it all sorted out and now I'm in complete panic mode! (although both good options and I know we are very lucky, but it's such a difficult decision...)

Don't know you or either of the schools so my advice is all other things being equal - go for the easiest logistically, for you as a parent. You have seven years of it to come, so choose the one you can get to the easiest. A school is a school at the end of the day - but you are a mother and it is your life too.

If you have a good local school, go to it. It is as simple as that. DG

The facilities at Habs are in a different league to SHHS. Pool, acres of grounds, massive gym. If this is important to your DD, SHHS doesn't come close.
Are you on the Habs coach route? My concern (and the reason it wasn't one of our top choices) is lack of public transport. I know lots of parents there with taxi accounts for their girls as a result.

Taxi accounts? Is there not a single coach route that drops off anywhere near a tube, train or bus stop? I don't know any family who would sign up to send their dc to school by taxi? Yes, Habs has a big site, though not as big as DAO and a new pool and gym but I would be surprised if anyone would choose a school on those features. DG

Thank you all. We are on the coach route for Habs but distance does worry me - there is always the odd dentist appointment or forgotten maths book, not to mention weekend games. It feels like SHHS would be much simpler to manage, and all her friends would be local as well. DH is very sold on Habs - loves the campus feel and the facilities. Not sure what DD will prefer as we never pushed SHHS as a real option with her. Guess we will have a busy evening!

Daogroupie wrote: I would be surprised if anyone would choose a school on those features. DG

Well a child might...but that's what parents are for, isn't it? To stop anyone from choosing a school on these features.

Good luck with your decision GG - but remember, you are the parent here.

The taxi accounts are used for late rehearsals and evening matches- parents get very organised with lift shares. My DDs are at NLCS and they know that if they forget books/kit, I won't bring it. We make all medical appointment for early in the am or after school. Oddly, from our house, the journey to SHHS on public transport or driving takes longer than the coach to NLCS does. It will be the same for Habs- you are going against the traffic on fast roads.
There will be an offer holders morning for both. Go have a look and then decide.

As for choosing a school based on facilities, why is this odd? If DD is a swimmer, a pool is a GOOD thing. If DD is sporty, why not choose a school with ample space so games aren't rationed to a postage stamp or require a coach to a far flung field? You wouldn't consider sending an art-mad child to a school without good art facilities or a budding linguist to a school with few language options, would you?

Good sports teachers are more important than good sporting facilities. St Albans High School has national trampoling and gym champions and get their girls to the National Netball finals yet their netball courts are a coach journey away on the other side of town. OP What sports is your dd interested in? DG

She plays Netball at school and wants to start Gymnastics. She also swims and does judo outside of school. Her state primary didn't have great facilities so anything will be an improvement TBH.
She liked the fact that Habs had the boys next door as she has many friends at her current school that are boys and wasn't 100% sold on single sex education.
Ultimately as one poster said it will be our decision and not hers, although obviously we will listen to her preference and take it into account...
Thank you everyone for your advice, I really appreciate it!