Chapters
Irony can sometimes be delicious, can't it? In 1911, Hampstead Garden was under development as a housing estate for the poor. Meanwhile, girls from wealthy London homes were privileged to enjoy top-shelf educational opportunities. Hampstead Garden girls weren't afforded the same. Dame Henrietta Barnett wanted girls' education to be the same across the board. She believed girls deserved an education suited to their abilities, not their financial situation. So, she built a school:
- a grammar school with academy status
- an expansive, on-campus sports facility
- an entire, newly-built wing dedicated to science studies
- facilities for Design and Technology studies
- a recently-built, expansive library
- an award-winning music department
- participation in Young Enterprise schemes every year
True to Dame Henrietta Barnett's vision, enrolment and attendance in her school are free. There are no per-term tuition fees, registration fees or deposits to be paid. All of that sounds great but where's the irony? Hampstead Garden is now one of London's wealthiest districts. And instead of catering to girls from financially advantaged families, this school continues to educate girls regardless of their wealth. Let's see how you can enrol your daughter.
About Henrietta Barnett School
Henrietta Barnet School is a grammar school for girls ages 11-18. It was founded in 1911 by Dame Henrietta Octavia Weston Barnett, an educator and social reformer. She started the school as a way to help improve the lives of the poor, particularly women and children. The school was built because she wanted to give her students the highest quality of educational opportunities regardless of how much money their families had.
Like North London Collegiate School, Henrietta Barnett is recognized as one of the top girls’ schools in the country. You can frequently find this school at the top of educational league tables. Not too long ago, The Telegraph reported that Henrietta Barnett is the best-performing state school in England. In a similar tone, the Sunday Times extolled Henrietta Barnett School as a sterling example of single-sex state school success.
The school has undergone many renovations including a 2011 addition, Hopkins Wings. This newly-built wing was intended to provide the students with new art, music, drama, and design technology facilities. Other plans, now complete, extended and refurbished the library. Over 80% of its pupils have achieved an A*/A grade at A Level and 91% A*/A grade at GCSE.
Clearly, with such a track record (and the absence of fees, let's not forget that), entry into Henrietta Barnett is extremely competitive. On average, nearly 2000 girls apply for the roughly 93 places open each year. So if you are interested, you must submit an Entry Test Application Form. That's not so unusual; Francis Holland at Regent's Park requests the same. And then, your child will be invited to undergo the entrance tests and the rest of the admissions procedures.
Henrietta Barnett School Admissions Processes
The school participates in the coordinated admissions process operated by the London Borough of Barnet. In order for the Governing Body to consider your application you must complete two forms. The first will be the Common Application Form. Your Local Authority for the district you live in requires that this application must be filled in and returned to them. On this form, name Henrietta Barnett School as one of your choices.
This next step in your admissions process sounds rather complicated. Let's see if we can clear things up. Your Local Authority will first consider how well you meet admissions criteria for all of your choices. They will then offer you a place at the school you 'fit' the best, and which best fits you.
Your order of preference won't be relayed back to the schools. Thus, the Henrietta Barnett School emphasises that, if you listed them as your first choice, you might not receive an offer from them. However, that doesn't mean you will jeopardise your chances of being given a place at your next preference school. Admittedly, this is a far more complicated process than applying to most other schools in England.
The second form you need to fill out is the Henrietta Barnett School Entrance Test Entry Form. It is available from the school's website and must be completed to signal your daughter's interest in sitting the entrance test. Be sure to check the school's admissions page for exact deadlines for when it must be submitted. The deadlines vary depending on whether you create an online application are sending it by post.
To apply to sit the test, candidates must be in Year 6 at the time of the entrance tests. It is therefore important that you apply to both the School and your Local Authority in a timely fashion. Year 7 admissions are based on an Entrance Test on Verbal and Numerical reasoning, and an English and Mathematics examination. All applicants take the Entrance Test with only the top 300 candidates continuing to the English and Mathematics examination. If you are considering applying, you should do so when your daughter is in Year 5.
Key Tips For Successful Entry into Henrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School does not provide past papers, but their examination follows the typical 11+ exam format. It is highly recommended that you purchase some of the many 11+ practice books available on the high street as well as online. You may also consider engaging an 11+ tutor who specialises in test preparation. Practising these papers is a very good way of getting used to the format of questions as well as working out good strategies for the exams.
There is no pass/fail mark for The Henrietta Barnett School entry exams. However, all girls are ranked according to their combined scores. Unlike Lady Eleanor Holles School and others of this calibre, Henrietta Barnett School does not conduct student interviews as a condition of enrolment. Thus, a good showing on exams is even more important.
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