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Highgate School A GSG School

What says..

It may not have the campus feel of its more suburban competitors, and the walk to the pitches makes for a good 10 minute warm up, but the net outdoor space featuring fields, pavilions, hard tennis courts and Astroturfs far exceeds expectations for a London school – and that’s on top of the sports hall, squash courts and indoor pool (undergoing a major renovation at the time of our visit). Gentle souls can breathe a sigh of relief...

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What the school says...

Highgate is a co-educational day school with pupils from a diverse range of backgrounds across North London. We offer a Pre-Preparatory School (ages 3-7), Junior School (ages 7-11) and Senior School (ages 11-18).

Our School has three principal aims: to be a place for learning and scholarship; to be an exemplar for the healthy life; and to be a reflective community. Our teachers are enthusiastic, experienced and well-qualified subject specialists. Pastoral care is at the heart of all we do, and we provide extensive extra-curricular activities, including sport, music and drama, to further enhance your Highgate experience.

Entry to our Junior School is normally at the age of 7. All candidates take an entrance examination, and a significant proportion are then interviewed in groups. For pupils joining our Senior School at 11, there are tests, and a significant proportion are then interviewed. There are generally a few places for 13+ entry although these are limited. Pupils from other schools are admitted to our Sixth Form, following an interview. Only occasionally are there vacancies at other levels.

We provide means-tested bursaries and scholarships (both academic and musical) at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Our scholarships are honorary. ...Read more

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Curricula

Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Rowing

Fencing

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2006, Adam Pettitt MA (50s). Oxford modern and medieval linguist. Has taught French and German at Eton, Oundle and Abingdon and was second master at Norwich School under Jim Hawkins, former head of Harrow. Immaculate and clipped of tone; parents say ‘visionary’ and a ‘driving force’. Mere mortals have to concentrate to keep up when he speaks and there’s absolutely no conjecture – he is propelled by a sharply focused and incisively articulated moral and educational philosophy. Presides over quite the tidiest desk we have seen (one pen, one notebook, acres of spotless, ocean blue space). ‘Employability’ at the heart of his strategy: ‘We have to ask firstly whether pupils enjoy themselves and secondly whether they are acquiring employable traits.’ Tuned into social pressures faced by young people; aware of, and concerned...

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Who came from where

Who goes where

Special Education Needs

Two well-qualified specialist Learning Support teachers are employed who offer support to small groups and individuals.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

Who came from where

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