So here we are! At that unique moment in the state secondary application process when you reach the top of a waiting list and face a simple choice between two schools. Anyone here with any experience of either?
DS has aptitude places at both – Technology and Music respectively (he’s multi-talented!) Both schools are “Outstanding.” Chelsea also has a science speciality. Ashcroft (Technology Academy, full title!) could offer him a music bursary, probably, some time after he accepted a place.
Both schools are fairly new – 10 years ish?? – but Ashcroft especially already has solid reputation. Ashcroft looks to me like a bit of an academic powerhouse, in the mould of the (in-)famous Mossbourne Academy perhaps? The state of art tech equipment there was impressive - no evidence of budget restraints I could see (bankrolled by Lord A personally?). Clearly, a brilliantly successful state school . . .
Chelsea’s statistics are slightly less stellar (though also v good) and it is a bit smaller. It’s also CofE, which we are not, but its apparently significant local Muslim intake, well catered for – in a CofE school! - impressed me from a moral/political perspective (we’re not Muslim either).
DS is tending towards Chelsea I think because it seems friendlier (better pastoral care maybe?) and resembles his current small primary in terms of ethnic/social mix. He is mixed-race and can effortlessly reproduce my fairly-posh or London street as circumstance requires; but he wonders (I think) if Ashcroft is dominated by tough street-based boys? He did once murmur that it seemed to have more “gang”-type kids . . .??
I’m not bothered by this (though of course his opinion matters). I think both are great schools, am confident that any disruptive or bullying behaviour is well managed; and that barring some unforeseen disaster DS will do v well at either. Ours is a great dilemma to have!
The journey to either school would be much the same. As far as we know, no-one else from his primary school year will be at either school, but it’s not been an issue for him so far.
We don’t have long to decide . . . any comments welcome.
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Secondary education
Ashcroft or Chelsea Academy?
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marytuda · 12/04/2018 11:47
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