WHAT? WHERE?

Nestled in the chocolate-boxy charm of Highgate Village, this co-ed Prep is part of the wider Highgate Foundation (ages 4-18 yrs) and caters to 449 pupils in Y3 – Y6. With Hampstead Heath just up the road and 23 acres of green space to roam, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re in the capital.

Highgate has serious history – founded in 1565 by Sir Roger Cholmeley (he got the nod from Queen Elizabeth I herself), and formerly boys only, the school went co-ed in 2004 and hasn’t looked back. The Junior School building was rebuilt in 2016 and is, quite frankly, a stunner – described as “a wonder to behold” and they weren’t wrong. It’s not all architectural good looks, The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2025 placed Highgate in the Top 10 independent schools in London and among the Top 20 schools nationally for academic performance.

FACILITIES

It’s all light, glass, soaring atriums and clever touches like shaded, floor-to-ceiling windows to keep classrooms cool in summer. There’s a large hall with retractable seating, art and DT studios, music and drama rooms (plus a lush outdoor stage), science labs, and a library that’s both cosy and incredibly well-stocked (3,000 books and counting).

Just down the road, the school’s Mallinson Sports Centre is an absolute asset: 25m pool, indoor courts, dance studio, gym, squash, tennis, and even Eton Fives courts – a genteel little bonus for the traditionally minded.

SPORT

A stand-out area thanks to those grounds and top-tier facilities. All the usual suspects are here, but the school also offers fencing, water polo (from Y5), athletics, gymnastics, dance and the gloriously bonkers Eton Fives – like squash, but with gloved hands. Loads of teams, but inclusion is the name of the game, so even if your child isn’t the next Jude Bellingham or Leah Williamson, they’ll still get on the pitch.

CREATIVE ARTS

If drama, art or music is your child’s jam, they’ll thrive here. Every class performs a play annually (props to the Y5s for a juggling routine we weren’t expecting), a Y6 class was busy making underwater props for their Little Mermaid show, which they proudly show me – and for those who prefer backstage to spotlight, there’s a Props Club and training on the lighting rig.

The music provision is a real feather in Highgate’s cap. All kids enjoy a 50 minute lesson every week as part of the curriculum, and Y3s pick an orchestral instrument to learn (among the options are clarinet, violin, trumpet and tuba… brave!). Around 80% take one-to-one music lessons and can join one of 20 ensembles or four choirs. Graded exams take place each term and children can show off their musical skills, from informal to formal settings, with everyone encouraged to have a go.

Art is taught by a specialist in a dedicated space, and pupils’ creativity is proudly displayed throughout the building. Visiting authors also drop by regularly, inspiring literary flair – past guests include Adam Kay and Gabrielle Kent. Cressida Cowell is on the school’s hit list. Manifest it.

CO-CURRICULAR

With 80+ clubs to choose from, it’s pretty much a case of “what don’t you want to do today?” Coding, Minecraft, skateboarding, chess, walking club – even an Eco Council planting 3,000 bulbs in 2024, to increase biodiversity, encouraging recycling and tackling single use plastics such as water bottles. It’s an expansive, curious, get-stuck-in kind of culture.

ACADEMICS

This is a selective school, so children sit English and maths assessments in December of Y2, with group interviews in January. About 50 places are up for grabs at Y3, alongside around 60 who move up from Highgate Pre-Prep. Once you’re in, you’re in – no need to do the 11+ to move to Highgate Senior School.

GCSE and A-level results at the Senior School are stellar, and while there aren’t scholarships at Junior level, the bursary programme (launched at 7+ in 2022) is significant – with 10 Junior pupils currently receiving 90%-100% funding all the way to Sixth Form.

The vast majority of pupils go onto Highgate Senior School, which is very nearby but not on the same site (last year, for example, only five of 115 went to other schools). Highgate Junior and Senior schools share some facilities such as the dining hall, and older pupils make their way down the hill each day for lunch, and to use the extensive sports facilities.

PASTORAL

Pastoral care is a big deal at Highgate Junior – not just a tick-box exercise but the heartbeat of school life. Tutors keep a close eye and are the first point of contact for pupils and parents and each class has a Worry Box and specialists play a supporting role. Every child is also part of a House, and they’ll have a dedicated Head of House – think mentor-meets-cheerleader – who’s there for the whole four-year ride. That means one steady, familiar face helping your child navigate friendships to fractions and everything in between. Whether it’s celebrating a win, picking them up after a wobble, or gently nudging them into the school play, they’ve got a grown-up in their corner.

The House system isn’t just about points and prizes (although there are those too); it’s the backbone of a buzzing community. Think inter-House tournaments, team challenges, themed dress-ups and leadership roles that give even the quietest pupil a chance to shine. Friendships form across year groups, confidence blossoms, and every child finds their tribe. And when it comes to the next chapter? Highgate keeps it all in the family. The strong ties with the Senior School mean most pupils move up seamlessly at 11, with pastoral care and academic life dovetailing. One less upheaval to worry about.

SEND

For children with additional educational needs and those who just need a little extra help, there’s an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) on hand everyday. There’s also a Family Wellbeing Practitioner, who works informally by observing children in the playground for example, providing help to parents when needed with issues such as nightmares, anxiety or bereavement. There are also two counsellors who work on a drop in basis who are on site three days each week. There’s a referral system if a child needs more regular support.

THE HEAD

Philippa Studd, the first female head of Highgate Junior, took the reins in 2022 and is making her mark in all the right ways. She’s warm, sharp and clearly committed to inclusion – not as a buzzword, but baked into the curriculum. She teaches Y3 pupils herself (including Portuguese!), knows every child’s name, and has introduced new books by underrepresented authors to ensure the stories being studied reflect the students reading them. Leadership with heart and purpose.

Since taking over, she’s undertaken a complete review of the curriculum with one of her aims to ensure every child is reflected in what they are studying. As a result, Y4 read Baroness Floella Benjamin and Diane Ewen’s Coming to England, which tells Benjamin’s story of being part of the Windrush generation, while Y5 studies Asha and the Spirit Bird, set in the Himalayas, by Jasbinder Bilan.

QUIRKS

A Principal’s Tea Party, complete with cake and hot chocolate, for ‘stars of the week’? Yes please. Also love: the literary line-up of visiting authors, the school-wide sense of fun, and the way even the youngest pupils are encouraged to find their voice.

The illustrious and eclectic alumni list makes for interesting and inspiring reading: it includes Reverend John Venn, the inventor of the Venn diagram, composer John Rutter, Poet Laureate John Betjeman, actor Freddie Highmore and England cricketer Phil Tufnell amongst others. Girls were not admitted to the school until 2004 if you’re wondering why it’s male-dominated.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Highgate Junior School offers practical wraparound care for busy families. Early birds can join the morning club from 7.45am (a pre-booked, paid service), giving parents a flexible start to the day. After school, pupils enrolled in clubs can stay on for Late Owls, a relaxed supervised session until 4.45pm.

TRANSPORT

There’s a slick school coach service with five routes and more planned. Coaches are tracked via app so parents can check arrivals in real time. Early drop-off is from 7.45am (£5 per session, bookable termly – not the most flexible), and after-school clubs finish at 4.45pm.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE REPORT

Inspected in September 2024, the ISI found compliance in all five areas and a ‘significant strength’ in Highgate’s teaching expertise. Read the report here.

MOBILE PHONES

None allowed. End of. We like their style.

FEES

Y3 – Y6 £9,643 per term (inclusive of VAT, daily lunch, use of books, stationery, compulsory field work and visits which take place in curricular time). It’s on the higher end of the London day school spectrum, but many parents will feel it’s money well spent.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Confident, academically able children who’ll enjoy being gently nudged out of their comfort zone. Creative types, future scientists, team players and bookworms will all find their tribe here.

NOT FOR: Families after a small, intimate setting or a single-campus setup. And if you’re keen for your child to take the 11+, this isn’t your bag.

DARE TO DISAGREE? Open Day is Sat 27 Sept 2025 – bring the whole crew. Click here to register.

Highgate Junior School, 3 Bishopswood Rd, London N6 4PL. Tel: 0208 347 4490.

Highgate Junior School, Highgate Village, London

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