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Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 3:46 pm
by HarrowMama
Not sure this is a weird question and never been asked before… My DD is in year 3 now and we live in HA2 ( Harrow). She is quite bright at school and think will flourish in a grammar school but we have very limited choice w.r.t Grammar school ( only Slough consortium, in addition to open ones like Henrieta Barnet). We are considering moving to an area around London ( I work in London) which will give us more options for grammar schools..
Ones I have so far come up with are Bucks / Sutton and around / Slough consortium..

Do any of you have any recommendations please – both from the choice of schools and the performance of the schools perspective?

Many Many Thanks in advance!!

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:25 am
by Colmans
NW Kent have a batch of good schools. Access into london by train is also very good

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:14 am
by moved
Don't forget Essex. Chelmsford to London is probably easiest travel-wise.

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:08 pm
by berks_mum
It depends on where your job in London is. If west of London is convenient then Cookham, Bourne End, Furze Platt and some areas of Maidenhead are in the catchment of Bucks Schools, Slough schools and also Reading schools. Maidenhead probably has some fast trains to London (Paddington) although not as many from Slough.

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:40 pm
by 2Girlsmum
The north London ones are super-selectives. The ratio of applicants to places is 20:1 at HBS, 10:1 at QE Boys and Latymer, and 4.5:1 at St Michaels, but only accepts girls who have taken 1st communion and attend mass weekly(ish). They all have different exams too. Details are here: https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schoo ... ld-11-plus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and generally it's hard to do really well on several types of exam as the time factor is an issue. DD2 sat St Michael's (Maths, English, VR and NVR), and the next day sat Latymer CEM. Quite a challenge for a 10 year old! As a result they do well in the tables, but lots of children at other schools do equally well in smaller numbers. It would be easier to gain a place in Bucks, and there are some great train links to London. The fares wouldn't be much different either.

An other option is to look at state schools who perform well, and their catchment area. Muswell Hill is good (if pricey!), with Fortismere (state school), and the selectives HBS and Latymer an easy journey, as is St M's if catholic, and some great primary schools. Southgate has Ashmole (state school) and a direct bus to Latymer. It's in catchment for DAO too.

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:42 pm
by KS10
Are you in catchment for Nower Hill?

Re: Greater London - Best region for grammar school

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:41 pm
by HarrowMama
Hi All,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. This should give me enough guidance to explore different areas further.

We do live quite close Nower Hill ( and Whitmore High and the newly approved Pinner High school site).

Thanks