Which school would you choose as first choice?

[mrsglowglow]

My D's is in yr 6 and we are in process of applying for high school. Both schools have similar results but one is an easy 1 bus journey and the other will involve bus and then tube. The further away school is in a very affluent home counties area and the intake appears to be mainly middle to working class families. The nearer school is in a London borough with a very mixed intake with white British children a minority and a high level of disadvantaged pupils. I liked both schools as does my ds but have concerns re both. What would you put as a higher priority? Attending a school with peers he has more in common with but a longer journey or a closer school where he will possibly have fewer friendship opportunities? We are leaning towards the closer school but then wobble as the majority of his friends will prob be going to the other school and comments from other parents are putting doubts in our mind.

[PatriciaHolm]

Are you actually likely to get into both? Do you have a solid banker backup in case you don't?

If the results are similar and you both got a good feeling about the nearer one, there is a lot to be said for a shorter journey (and physically closer friends potentially), especially when homework ramps up.

[mrsglowglow]

We have an even nearer school that he will almost certainly get a place but it's a single sex school which he may not be suited to. This will be on our list though as a back up. They are all faith schools and we cannot be certain of getting a place in either school. Judging by previous years intake though there are children at both schools from near to where we live. Yes the homework time is a concern as is after school clubs etc.

[lljkk]

I would let my kids choose.