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Original poster

Please tell me your positive experiences of the local, very average comp.

30 replies

AnotherTeacherMum · 02/07/2012 12:58

So I have 2 dc, they are bright (not MN standard genius:)) and are well behaved (I give them no choice!! but they are nice kids IMO!).

They go to a primary which on paper is v average but I think is amazing and has kids from a VERY mixed catchment- from million pound houses to v deprived council estates. The local secondary has a simliar catchment They are very switched on re bullying, good parent/teacher relationships and I mainly love it because it is a nice, happy places for my kids to be.

I have always been a big believer that well supported kids from happy homes will do well wherever. I am training as a primary teacher and feel this even more strongly after my experiences at schools.

So why am I letting all the school gate angst make me feel my kids will not be absolutely fine at our local, pretty average (on paper, but who knows in practice?) comprehensive?

My main reservation is that my ds, who is the oldest, is very quiet and bookish- likes music, art, not really into football etc- I'm more worried about bullying, peer pressure etc than academics. Also, our primary is on the border for 4 local authorities which means the kids do tend to go off to lots of different secondaries, so only a couple from their school will go to any one high school.

Going for anything other than the local comprehensive would mean hours travelling and/ or bankrupting ourselves with school fees which I feel is really damaging to family life- my parents did all that so we could go private and I always felt I would have done just as well and been happier at the local school. Am I being naive?

Please reassure me that I'm being ridiculous and to follow my instincts and go with the local comprehensive school.

OP posts:
BeingFluffy · 02/07/2012 13:29

Is it possible to make an appointment to see the HT or visit the school? I know our local comp does this outside of the admissions round because they really want kids with supportive parents.

I thought my local comp was terrible because of the reputation it had when I was at school. Also the kids were so badly behaved on the local buses it really put me off; but things have improved dramatically over the last few years as it was so bad it got a super-head.

cocolepew · 02/07/2012 13:20

Gah! Sorry didnt proof read, on phone!

cocolepew · 02/07/2012 13:19

We sre in in NI and at the time my DD did the 11+ snd hot sn A so could have got into sny grammer. But she is quiet and anxious and I didnt wsnt he to have the pressure our licsl grsmmar puts the children under.

She goes to our local High school (comp) which has a terrible reputation through gossip. Shes going into 4th year.

I cant praise it enough. She hss slways bern in classes with the ssme scademicslly minded children. There are mixed classes for vocational studies.

She has like minded friends. The school is very open with bullying. They admit it happens, like in all schools, but take it very seriously and its stopped incredibly quick.

There is s wider range of subjects to do and I think they get mire comunity based visits etc.

The school always awards good behaviour wuyh s merit scheme, cinema tickets etc.

Original poster
AnotherTeacherMum · 02/07/2012 13:14

Thanks Beingfluffy.

I've done all the ofsted/website stuff and my conclusion is that it looks v average- we live in the area where the school is and behaviour etc is quite mixed- some very sensible, polite kids about after 3.30, some a bit more... lively :)

I do thing schools can suffer and benefit from reputations undeservedly... its hard to get past this!

I agree that the sensibly behaved kids tend to stick together too.

OP posts:
BeingFluffy · 02/07/2012 13:09

I sent my elder DD to a grammar miles away but at the time had I known how good our local comp was, I may well have sent her there. My younger DD now goes there. She has tended to make friends with nice well behaved girls like herself.

Do your best to find out about the school. Ask other Mumsnetters? Read Ofsted reports, the school website and most importantly visit the school. Go past at opening and home time - how do the students behave, are the teachers visible?