Different types of secondary school but no choice

[2babyblues]

I am a bit confused as to why the secondary schools in my town all have different specialisms for example, one is sports, one is arts and media and one is maths and IT, but you can only really get into the one in your catchment area.
So in my area we have the sports school but my son would be more suited to Arts and Media. However, he only really has a chance to get into his catchment one. It doesn't really make sense to have these specialisms unless you have a choice in each catchment area does it?
I know that children will get more or less an all round education at any school but it seems bizarre to assume that every boy in our catchment will want to focus on sport while every one on the other side of town will focus on IT.
Anyone else have this?

[admission]

This was bought in a good few years ago that secondary schools should develop a specialist subject. Most secondary schools now have a specialisation and some are based on complete nonsense situations. I know of a sports school who have recently been criticised by OFSTED for their appallingly bad facilities for sport!

The bottom line is that schools with a specialisation get about £150,000 more funding so it is no surprise that most schools want one or more specialisations. To be honest I don't think it makes a large difference to the education your son will receive.

[bruffin]

Some of the schools in our area with specialisms in language and technilogy can sellect upto 10% of children on aptitude

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

A friends DD goes to an arts specialist one and they have to choose at least one from drama, art, music, dance for gcse.

[maria1665]

Our local school is a specialist language school, and even though we didn't really have a choice but to go to it, it has worked out well, because their language teaching is superb. They are currently having all their history lessons in French!

Another local school specialises in art and music and all children do an early GCSE in expressive arts.

So if you look very closely, there are often differences - but as you say, if you can't choose, there isn't much you can do. Look on it as a bonus, that a school can offer something extra in a particular field.

Important thing is to find a generally good school.

[cory]

Dd's is a specialist school in Business and Technology: all it actually means for someone who is not interested in b&t is that she has to do one GSCE in a tech subject- dd will probably end up doing cooking. Otherwise, completely traditional curriculum.

[mnistooaddictive]

It is a funding loophole and schools that don't have a specialism loose out. Complete waste of time really. Meant well that you went to a school with a specialism that matches your interest but doesn't work like this in practice.

[2babyblues]

Thanks for your replies. We are moving soon so am starting to think about secondary schools. Looking at the grades round here I think the specialisms are the last of my problems!!

[Froid]

Yes ours is a "specialist science college" - however their sports facilities are one of the best in the area and nobody ever mentions their science areas!!

[mummytime]

Schools choose specialisms for two reasons: a) they are really good at something b) they are bad and want to improve that area. My DS's is a Arts specialist, so he has to do an art GCSE (he's doing computer graphics which they have just decided is). But actually the school is very good at Science, and has fabulous sports facilities.

[LynetteScavo]

The whole thing does seem a bit silly. I'm relieved for DS1 he won't be going to to the specialist arts school in our town...I cannot imagine him wanting to take drama, art, music etc at GCSE. When I mentioned this to a teacher when looking round, he told us DS could do DJ-ing.

Also, the school nearest to us has specialist sports status. After they received it, they sold of a load of their sports field for housing.

The school he will be going to is and arts and technology school, which nicely covers both DSs' interests. Phew!

[bruffin]

It worked for us, DS did the aptitude for technology and got himself into a very good school that really meets his needs.

DD got in on the sibling rule, not that interested in science and technology but there is plenty there to keep her occupied.