Sending your DC to different secondary schools

[redskytonight]

DS is currently in Y8 at our catchment secondary school.

DD is in Y6, so we are facing the school application process. She would be guaranteed a place at our catchment school where DS is. She would have only an outside chance of getting a place at any other of the "better"* schools in the town (they very rarely take children out of catchment).

DH points out that even if she did get into another school it would be a pain for us to have 2 children at 2 schools and says we should just stick the catchment school down on the form, job done.

I can't see that 2 secondary schools (where you hardly go in anyway) would be particularly difficult and want at least to look at our nearest other school (the one she's most likely to get into out of the slim chances).

What do others reckon?

• barring bizarre statistical anomaly
  ** better = not the school where the staff are leaving in droves and would be very difficult for us to get to anyway ...

[Seeline]

Mine are at different secondaries, both single sex, so with one of each it was inevitable!
Now in Y8 and10. So far have only had one clash of dates that had an impact on us ie often have events on same days, but not necessarily ones that we have to go to.
I think the main issue can be different holiday dates, but as they get older, even that is less of an issue.

[Seeline]

Sorry - posted too soon.
I think the really important thing is that your DD gets the chance to go to the school that would be best for her (and as always, that doesn't necessarily have to be the best school). I am sure that was the main consideration when choosing schools for your DS. And just because one goes to one school does not make it the best choice for the other.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

We'll be doing it (not through choice, DS is in yr 8 at a special school and DS yr 6 will go mainstream). I can't see that it's any worse than one at secondary and the other at primary.

Our biggest problem is holidays being at different times - we are on a county boundary and DS's school is in a different LA, this year we have different Feb half terms and different Easter holidays to contend with. Even within LAs I think academies can set their own term dates I think.

[PatriciaHolm]

I think it's pretty normal at secondary - mine will be at different single sex schools too.

[RustyBear]

My two were at different single -sex schools; we rarely had clashes and holidays were usually broadly the same with the odd different day here and there, though insets were usually different. There was just one Easter holiday, where DS had the week before and the week after Easter off and DD (and I, as I work in a school) had Good Friday plus two weeks after Easter. By that time DS was old enough to stay home alone, so it wasn't really a problem.

[twinkletoedelephant]

I have 3 children and potentially 3 secondary schools to choose from.
They are guaranteed a place at one as it's a feeder school from the one they go to. Another is at the end of our road (we moved house kids still go to old school) and a new school has been proposed.
They will go to the school that is most suitable for them.
Ideally ds2 would go to the 4th local (as in could walk too) as it has a specialist asd unit, but as it's a catholic school and were not catholic hestands no chance of a place.
Each child will go to the one that best meets their needs at the time of application. I would have no problem splitting up the twins if it was for their own benefit

[Sunnydawn]

I have a similar dilemma. Eldest DS had the choice of three secondaries, all in a part selective consortium. He and I chose his school on the basis that it had the best pastoral support for him, and wouldn't be too pressurised (he is a child who puts too much pressure on himself anyway).

He is currently Year 8.

DS2 is year 5, and will have the choice of at least two schools - ds1's school, and another which is bigger, lot more clubs, slightly higher results, but bit of a sink or swim attitude.

Would've been a disaster for ds1, but I think ds2 might thrive there.

I don't know whether to take the chance, and what message this may send to both boys.

[Iwantacampervan]

My daughters have gone to different secondary schools and we have had no clash of dates/meetings etc. They are both in the same county so holidays were the same, just INSET days which varied. My eldest went to an all girls school (now at a sixth form college) and the youngest to a mixed school - both comprehensive. We chose based on the 'best fit' for the girls and their preference - my youngest really would not have been happy at the other school. Also, I would not have insisted that the eldest went to the school that the youngest now attends on the basis that it would be better for her sister (round here I've heard that used as a reason or choice of school).