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Secondary education

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Original poster

how many secondary schools did you look at?

35 replies

hatwoman · 23/09/2010 21:55

wondering if i'm being unreasonable in only looking at one...I very much doubt looking at the others would change my mind. (The other options would all mean taking dd away from her friends which we did already - with some difficulty - by moving 18 months ago; one of them is a church school and way too far away with no public transport; one of them is private when I'm a leftie at heart; one of them is too far away]. The school we've looked at is good, and is exactly the kind of school I've always said - in theory - that I'd want dds to go to - but part of me feels it's not quite right to make a decision without more research. I think I'm just a bit taken back by the enormity of my pfb growing up...

OP posts:
CecilyP · 24/09/2010 11:08

It sounds like you live in a rural area and don't really have a choice. I would look on it as a plus that you are happy with your one sensible option.

It is different if you live in an urban area with several schools within either walking distance or a short bus ride away and where the children from primary school will be dispersing to a number of secondaries anyway.

said · 23/09/2010 23:25

Only looked at 1 (nearest). Other possibility had Open Evening on same night Hmm

purplepurpleplum · 23/09/2010 23:22

I started looking in Yr 5 and have visited 33 schools in total. These things get much more complicated when you're looking at boarding and also have SEN to consider.

Original poster
hatwoman · 23/09/2010 22:50

oh and cat - we're 99.9 per cent certain to get in. would be very unusual not to.

OP posts:
Original poster
hatwoman · 23/09/2010 22:49

dh is very laid back about it all...thinks it's mad to spend time looking at improbable options when, really, we have no idea how dd would do at any one of them, and when there are so many other things that will affect her well-being and education and, for want of a better word, prospects. I was half-expecting a bit of a flaming here though...that a good parent would gather every single possible bit of information to make the "best" decision...you lot so far though have reassured me...

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 23/09/2010 22:28

I could have written your post hatwoman.
Our local high school is by far the best in our LEA. It is the nearest and easiest to get to. Like you I am a bit of a leftie to consider private education, besides we can't afford it and said school is in the next city and the bus doesn't get back into our village until 4.45.

All of DD's friends will be going to the local school, so it is a no brainer for us. I shan't put a second and third choice on the application form because the other state schools round here are just awful.

cat64 · 23/09/2010 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MumInBeds · 23/09/2010 22:10

We just looked at one, our catchment school.

TheProfiteroleThief · 23/09/2010 22:06

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuzieHomemaker · 23/09/2010 22:02

We looked at two for DD1 but when it came to DS we just went along for the open day at the same school his sister was at.

I'm not sure that open days really tell you much about the school.

If there arent really other options then I would stick with just the one. Is there any point in going to look at the private school just to admire their sports facilities?

If you and your daughter are happy then stick with just the one.