Academy (performing arts) or Catholic school?

[blossominthegarden]

Hi,
I would like some advise on senior schools. I have a child in year 5. We are trying to decide which school is right.
The choice of senior schools are 1) school very near is very low performing school with bad behaviour problem
2) Academy with performing arts specialism - 3/4 hour away
3) Catholic school - 1/2 away (we are not Catholic)
We have visisted all of them. My child likes the Academy best. There will be other children we know at all the schools.
What is the MN's advise?

[Leeds2]

Go for the Academy, although make sure your DC understands exactly what a 45 min commute is like! Also be sure that you can get there on time, be it by car or public transport.

Does your DC enjoy performing arts?

[blossominthegarden]

Thanks for your reply, Leeds2. She is interested in the performing arts, but not more than that really. She likes acting in school plays.

[mummy1973]

How close is the low performing school and how performing is it? What did you think when you visited? Would you get into the other 2 given they are a long journey away and one is catholic (and you are not)?
BTW sounds similar to the situation we will face in a few years.

[blossominthegarden]

Hi Mummy1973, the low performing school has around low 40's (%) of children getting 5 GCSE's including English and Maths (depends on the year - it can be slightly higher). Children can take the bus or train and it takes about 10 mins by train. Children do cycle from here too.

I think we may be able to get into the Catholic School, we are Church of England. This school is about 1/2 an hour or so by bus. It doesn't have a late bus, so I would have to pick her up if she did after school activities.

The Academy takes children outside it's catchment. It seems to encourage applications from outside the catchment area.

I think many people in my area are in the same situation, not sure which option to take!

[lljkk]

I don't think specialisms mean very much, especially not in Britain.
I went to a performing arts school in spite of no talent or interest in performing arts. Got good results, yada yada. In OP's situation, I would let my DD choose.

Our local high school has had GCSE headline figures in mid 40s most year, was 40% GCSE pass rate in...2010? Up to all time high of 58% for 2012. At least one kid got accepted to Oxbridge (to study Vet science) out of that 40% pass rate cohort, too. And not because they got a extra boost for low GCSE scores, either, not quite low enough for that. I know so many people who honestly rave about the local high school.

[mummy1973]

Hi. I guess if your child likes the academy best and you think you'll get in then go for that as first choice? Do you have reservations about the academy?

[blossominthegarden]

Thank you for the advise and comments. I think we'll go and see them all again in September and then decide.

[SoupDragon]

Have you looked at the admissions criteria for the Catholic school? Not being catholic would normally put you well down the list. Try asking them how many non-Catholics have been admitted recently.