If you have children or are planning to have children, one of the biggest factors that plays a part in your search for a new home and the decision to move to a new area is the school situation. This is one decision you want to get right, giving your little ones the very best start in life. It helps to do your research so you can take the stress out of the search and concentrate on what you want your property to look like.
Here, we have looked at some of the best schools in Highgate, London, so that once you have commissioned your architects to design or adapt your dream home in Highgate, you can get the practical details out of the way and secure yourself a place.
Primary Schools in Highgate, London (3–11 years)
Highgate Primary School is a two-form entry school that has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There’s no uniform policy and the staff are called by their first names by pupils. If your child is gifted in the arts, this may be one to consider as music, art and whole-school performances are central to the school environment, with opportunities to learn Mandarin and sport as well. Highgate Primary School works in close partnership with the Blanche Nevile School for the Deaf and Highgate Family Centre to make sure children get the best start to their education. They also provide wrap-around care, which is a godsend for busy, working parents.
St Joesph’s Catholic Primary School is rated as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED and takes in one nursery class and is two-form entry from there onwards. There is a huge focus on respect and love for one another, made easier by the little oasis of calm that is the outside woodland area of the school. If your child is interested in art or sport they will thrive here, with plenty of classes throughout the day led by professional coaches and tutors. As well as having before and after school provision, there are also up to twenty after school enrichment clubs for your child to attend to get the most out of their school day.
Judged as ‘outstanding’ in both their most recent OFSTED inspection and their SIAMS inspection, St Michael’s CofE is in the top three per cent of primary schools in the country. They describe themselves as ‘an oasis of green in inner London’. Again, they offer wraparound care in the form of a breakfast club and after school club, meaning you can work in the knowledge that your children are in safe hands.
Secondary schools in Highgate, London (11–19 years)
This is the only state secondary school in the area and is just for boys, so if you’re looking for a co-ed school you will need to look outside of the immediate Highgate area unfortunately. With a 140-year history, it is also primarily for those from the Roman Catholic faith. They do a range of fantastic overseas trips and experiences, including a visit to Poland and as far as the USA and China. The school also offers plenty of sporting and musical opportunities for those with a talent for them.
Independent schools in Highgate, London (various ages)
The Avenue was founded over 40 years ago with some of the original children attending belonging to the founder. Now, they have had to move to bigger premises to cater to the ever-expanding numbers attending this prestigious pre-prep school and nursery. They start the children off in their educational life by fostering a love of learning and life through not only the core subjects but gardening, carpentry, yoga, music, sport and cooking, among other things.
Channing School has a Unitarian heritage and stays true to that in their teaching and ethos while providing a stimulating, empowering and vibrant educational experience for girls in North London. Small classes ensure high-quality teaching and close relationships between staff and pupils. There are plenty of extra-curricular activities available, as well as opportunities for music, sport and other interests and hobbies.
This prestigious school was voted the winner of the best independent school in 2020 by the TES (The Times Educational Supplement). The state of the art building takes children at the very beginning of their education at the tender age of three, right through until the end of their compulsory education at 19. The Forest School at the pre-prep fosters a love of nature and the environment, despite being in inner-city London, and this ethos sticks with children throughout their time at Highgate School. There is an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities and more than fifty residential trips and 159 day trips are offered in the junior school every year.
While you may have to venture outside of Highgate to find a school for your child, there is no shortage of prestigious and high-quality schools in the area that are well worth noting. If you find yourself settling down in picturesque Highgate and in need of an architect in the area, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Read more about our work as Highgate architects
