Choosing between sec schools

[Jennypog]

I wondered how you all judged which school was the best for your child. Would you go for the narrowly academic but very very successful. Or would you choose the school that does very well, but has a wider curriculum (and is substantially cheaper)?

[lou33]

personally i would choose wider curriculum, unless your child was extremely gifted in the academis area the school specialised in. But even then i think a variety is still best.

[Jennypog]

It is so difficult - one of the schools is one of the best in the country - the opportunity of a life time. However, their curriculum is very narrow and very academic. My child is very able, but I want her to enjoy school and not to be bored in lessons, or feel pressurised. I should be pleased that she got into both the schools she wanted, but I am in a dilemma now. Thanks for your reply.

[acnebride]

nice choice - good for your dd! i think i would go for the wider curriculum. Has your dd said which she would like? or are you going to 'guide' her decision (remembering my mum walking behind me on school tours going either 'SUCH a lovely place - ooh look at that exciting xyz' or alternatively 'well i'm sure they do VERY well with what they have - of course you'd have to get the earlier bus - i don't think any of your friends are coming here' etc etc

[Jennypog]

Her friends won't be going to either school. I don't mind about that (although she probably does!) - it is a good experience to meet new people and find new friends - I think it is anyway! She has done really well, but the other school has given her a scholarship - just to throw a spanner in the works. Now we wonder whether to have her at the really good school, or to go for the other one and let her be top of the class (and keep a bit more of our hard earned cash). It is nice to be top of the class - both schools are good, it is just that one is spectacularly good.

[clerkKent]

You have to visit both schools (and others beforehand to get an idea what to look for); it is not enough just to read about them. If it is really "the opportunity of a lifetime", then the choice is clear; but is it the best opportunity for DD?

Has the head teacher changed recently? Is there any kind of mentoring system? What is the stance on bullying? What are school dinners like? Journey to school? Academic options (eg French or German)? Clubs and activities? Can you talk to senior pupils to get their views? - they can sometimes be quite candid on open days. School trips? There is a limit to the number of subjects anyone can learn at one time, so how important is the wider curriculum? Does your child have strong outside interests (eg sport, drama) that the school supports?

[Jennypog]

We have visited both of them and they are lovely. Fabulous facilities, fabulous out of school activities, beautiful grounds, friendly teachers and children. What more could I want? I am in the ideal situation but I feel quite burdened with the responsibility of choosing the school. My husband is fed up of talking about it - I can't blame him really. I have a couple of weeks to make up my mind, but I thought the scholarship offer was lovely. It made her feel that the school really wanted her to go there - and it is a good school. Anyway, thanks for all your comments!

[Blandmum]

Visit both school, preferable with your child. Check the following

Wall displays---is the school porud of the kids work and do they put it on show
The toilets---tell you more about the school than many things!
Do the teachers interact with your child? This is more important than if they interact with you.
Does the school look as if it is there for the kids?
Is the playground area tidy and relativly free of litter?
And if all else is the same I would always go for breadth of oppertunity than narrow excellence. Your child might think atm that they want to do , for example, drama, but in the years to come they may discover other, longer lasting loves