St Helens or Northwood College

Independent Schools as an alternative to Grammar

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AML
Posts: 347
Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:32 pm

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by AML »

No brainer.

Since the merger with Heathfield school I have from a reliable source that staff morale has taken a beating at Northwood. Pupils have been reported to be sharing books as there are not enough to go around.

Even with a scholarship why go for Northwood knowing academically they will not come out as strong, given the track record and excellent facilities of St Helens.
LegoFriends
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:06 pm

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by LegoFriends »

I've been reading this post with great interest and it seems that St Helens is the better choice, hands down.

I am really confused though and I am wondering why Northwood College just doesn't seem to be up there with St Helens. It has been a couple of years since the merger now and it is a school that I would like to consider for my DD but having read these recent posts, it has really put me off. It seems they are handing out many scholarships and reading about the low morale of the teachers - well that is just so worrying.

Of course, I would need to see the school with my daughter and DH and see for ourselves.

Could I ask if there are any current Northwood College parents, preferably whose daughters have recently joined in senior school (year 7 and 8 in particular) as I would love to know why you like/dislike the school.

I'm finding it hard to make decisions as after reading many of the posts here, there is such good and valid information from everyone and there are quite clearly some very experienced parents here who are amazing at guiding people like me.

Thank you!
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by Daogroupie »

The pecking order of the Consortium schools has always been as follows:

Top and hardest to get into has always been City and NLCS. NLCS left the consortium last year leaving City in premier position.

Non consortium schools HABS and NLCS have been level with City but HABS interviews a lot of more girls and then knocks out a huge amount at interview. So it is easier to get to interview at Habs but harder to get an offer. Whereas everyone I knew of last year who got to interview at NLCS got a place and this year 3 of the 4 got a place.

Next down is St Albans which has a huge amount of local students who only apply to St Albans plus 48 preps so there is a lot more pressure on places. Also a lot of students use it as backup for Habs and NLCS so you might not get an offer straight off but you should have a good chance on the waiting list.

I would also put G and L on this rank.

Next comes Channing, St Helens, South Hampstead which tend to be attractive as local options though St Helens is really on the up and up but still easier to get into than St Albans.

Northwood seems to be Plan C for many. As I have said a dd I know of did not bother to attend the interview last year and they still gave her an offer and this year I know of students with 50% scholarship offers who did not get scholarships anywhere else but are still turning it down.

It is like the football league. The consortium schools lower down the pecking order tempt parents with scholarship offers.

I think Northwood suffers from being too close to St Helens. All the other schools pick up a lot of strong local dds who have parents who don't want them to travel.

But if St Helens are picking up all the local dds then Northwood is at a disadvantage. DG
13plusmum
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:55 pm

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by 13plusmum »

A word of caution - St Helens is very academic with very pushy highly tutored girls, competitive parents and is prone to bullying so beware!
HappyMum123
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:00 am

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by HappyMum123 »

I have to say, I don't recognise 13plusmum's view of StHelens at all. Yes, there are some girls who are obviously still tutored but that applies to any school - tutor your child to get into somewhere and chances are you will be tutoring them for ever more to keep up. DD experience of StHelens is of a supportive, unpressurised, caring environment. Our experience is of a school that knows it's individual girls inside out and back to front and knows how to get the best out of them.
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by Daogroupie »

St Helens is a terrific school and I know of two lovely dds who will be joining in September. It is really up and coming and may one day overtake St Albans and G and L. But at the moment every year I know a great gaggle of dds that take the same four each year, NLCS, HABS, St Albans and St Helens. They either get all four or just St Albans and St Helens or just St Helens. One or two every year miss one of NLCS or HABs but nobody has ever missed St Helens and the ones who go there love it.

As for the over tutoring myth, it is strange how nobody ever says a student is overtutored if they get 11 A stars at GCSE.

Every student is tutored/prepared for the 11 plus, either at a study centre or a tutor's home or by their parents or a tutor at home or at a prep school. Everything they learn will help them when they get to secondary school. I know of many DCs with sibling places at DAO who are being prepared/tutored for when they get there. One sibling came in the top 75 this year.

Back to the OP. In my opinion every child who enjoys learning should go to the most academic school they can get into that is not too far from their home. So absolutely St Helens over Northwood. DG
LegoFriends
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:06 pm

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by LegoFriends »

13plusmum - your post is rather worrying. Is this based on your first hand experience?

It was good to read the following responses and it almost felt like I could breath again.
CandyCrush
Posts: 75
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:50 am

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by CandyCrush »

St Helen's does feel like a school on the way up.

My daughter's been there for 18 months and there are many success stories which the school is keen to share, the most recent being their performance in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. St Helen's did brilliantly in the Finals beating QE Boys, NLCS, HABS and MT.

A Level results are improving year on year and Oxbridge offers are at a record high.

This thread suggests Northwood College's offers of academic scholarships hasn't worked. In contrast, my daughter's year group includes girls with generous scholarships who turned down places at NLCS and HABS.

The Head, a Cambridge graduate who's held senior teaching positions at St Paul's Girls and Habs Girls, seems determined to make St Helen's an exceptional school.
baggies4ever
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:24 am

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by baggies4ever »

No direct experience of St Helen's but remember the Head very well when she was Deputy at Habs. Absolutely adored by parents and girls - aside of being a great teacher, really took trouble to get to know the girls and had generally outstanding people skills. So pleased to hear she's doing great things in her first Headship - I'm not at all surprised!
DaughterLove
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:17 pm

Re: St Helens or Northwood College

Post by DaughterLove »

We visited both school open days today As we have offer from both St Helens and Northwood College. 30% scholarship from Northwood and offer from St Helens.

Northwood head speech was to the point and described what Northwood provide to the girls. Value add from entry to GCSE. If your daughter is 60%-70% range from the various entry exams Inc grammar school exams then this school will ensure they reach their potential and push them to possibly A-B @ GCSE. Very nurturing and a great welcome from all staff. Yes a high Asian % but this reflects the area and a reflection of the time and effort Parents spend on the welfare and education of their children.

Tutoring is a ££££ business these days and this school will ensure your child is educated without the need for further tutoring. You are paying £20k Inc cost and trips for this privilege. Both my wife and I would prefer one of the top state schools around Pinner (Pinner high, Nower hill, Northwood sec school). and use the money saved for extra help if she ever needed the help else save the money for university. We are very comfortable financially but would consider the £££ for value for money V state. She currently goes to a very good nurturing state school and enjoys the challenge of playing football with the boys..
She passed the entrance exams and excelled in the interviews as she was herself so nothing to hide and no false ego or pretence of self importance. Deputy head at St Helens gave excellent feedback on children that are from state and then excel academically in a private school environment.

St Helens has successfully improved its image and academic achievement under Dr Short.
The visit was a pleasure and meeting the staff and the school girls (there are building works happening but will be finished with a new junior school to be proud off). The vision statement, staff and facilities makes St Helens with an excellent mix of girls from a wide variety of backgrounds a definite acceptance for us.

Our daughter has visited St Helens many times and knows this is the school for her and will succeed and ensure the investment we as parents make will produce not only the results but a girl that is well mannered and a credit to society and hopefully will give her skills, knowledge and humanity to others.

The other main factor is the distance from home, lots of parents mention this so Habs/NLC were out of the question for us due to distance. She loves her sports and want to participate and make use of the facilities and specialist teachers and coaches.

So for parents still considering if your child got an offer from St Helens and Northwood then I hope this has helped you. Ultimately it's a gut feeling as parents and your daughter will have. DONT GET CAUGHT UP WITH THE JONES's or PATELS!!!!

Good luck with your decisions..state results next week
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