Comp or grammar for A level

Went to Grammar, teach in a Comp.

I would say the Comp every time, if it is good. My Grammar might have served me well academically, but it taught me nothing about life and I left with a very warped perception of the world. I detest selective schools.

Also, I thought my teachers at the Grammar were fab, until I started teaching in a Comp and saw 'real' teaching rather than just being read to out of a textbook (we were motivated and bright enough to cope with this but let's face it, it isn't teaching!). I also think that there is more support for students who struggle in a comp. Very often, high achievers struggle with A levels as they have coasted through GCSEs but can't coast through A levels.

How well do the two schools teach Maths and Science? How mant groups do they have for each subject? What is the pastoral care like?

What do they do to prepare students for University/alternatives?

My DCs Comp has multiple groups for each Maths and Science, including lots of girls. They also do lots of specialist lectures on HE, as well as organised visits, and information on other opportunities.

I would also listen to your DD.

Grammar school.No brainer!

Hmm.. She does drama, D of E, the usual stuff. She's pretty focused on wanting to get good grades, but feels confident that she is equally likely to get them in either of these school. And she's probably right. I think boys will rear their ugly heads, but I think that will happen wherever, whether in school or at the end of the day. I have heard - anecdotally - that the comp is not so hot on its Maths teaching, and given that she wants to take two Maths A levels, that concerns me. But she knows all this stuff, and she's a clever, sensible girl, so I will probably leave the decision to her!

I would go for the comprehensive- particularly if she's come from a private school. Don't worry about not being in the top 100 -there a lot of comprehensive schools in the country!

However, before your dd decides, she need to think about what she likes to do apart from work- sport? drama? music? - and look at what the schools can offer. 6th form is hard work, but it should be fun too- dd has had a fantastic time so far- two plays, and a choir tour as well as work.

Senura is correct also about departments etc.

Do you have any local parent opinion to go on?

I agree with Erabus! That post makes no sense, Dom!

I do think it comes down to which environment your DD will settle into quickest and so which will enable her to reach her potential grades.

Perhaps also, a coed at this stage will help her prepare for Uni?

I dunno, it seems that this is, in the end, a gut decision that your dd and you need to reach.

I meant itabout the bigger picture. Any prospectus or website will warble on about sports facilities or the orchestra or the chess club or charitable causes or ...
Don't get sidetracked by that. Concentrate on the subjects that are important to you. They might get 100 pupils a year to Oxbidge to read History but that means nothing to a Scientist/Mathematician. Every school has good and bad departments - make sure that the school you choose is good in your subjects.

Dom... Wot? You haven't really made any sense, there, sorry.

Forget mixing thats not gonna help her if the comp has lack of amanition for the children which most do

I would say to anyone keep your children as far awAy from a comp as possible faling a grammer school then go for a outstanding chruch school failing that go for a outsnding comp plus tutor failing that pray

senua! NOT look at the bigger picture? This is her DDs bigger picture! ONLY 4 A levels?? And you say 'look at the leavers destination' - you can't get much more 'bigger picture' than that! Whether the OPs DD is likely to gel with what may be different educational environments is what's important!

At this stage , you shouldn't look at the bigger picture. Your DD will be studying only four subjects. Drill down and find out how the sixthforms do for those particular subjects. Look at grades and look at leavers' destinations. Don't get side-tracked by irrelevant subjects and other stuff.
Also, the step up to sixth form is difficult for everyone but especially so for in-comers. How do the school treat those who struggle: help them or boot them out at Y12? I know you say that DD is on for A/A* grades but I have known similar pupils who have floundered and been 'asked to leave'.

Friday and I are coming from the same place....

I would say comp and I went to a Grammar. Academically great but didn't prepare us for the real world and mixing with all sorts of people Uni was a big shock!

I would always say grammar given the choice. But that's because I went to one.

I'm feeling very nosey about which schools you're talking about though!

Will she have her head turned by boys? Is she socially skilled or a bit -um- geeky?

It is a tricky one. I did Y7 to Y13 at a girls GS. Y7-11 was great; 12-13 we were very aware of feeling being held back in the environment. There was a big world out there and here we were, in school uniform, champing at the bit! But this was quite a long time ago. And girls like me weren't heading for Oxbridge whereas quite a few girls were.

A genuinely clever academic DD should be fine academically anywhere. If 'the school's achievements' means purely in terms of points scored at A level, go GS; if she and you want a broader educational experience (but with the likelihood of good results, anyway; BUT with the 'risks' of co-ed and, dare I say, less -ahem- spoon feeding that can sometimes characterise private school), go comp. my caveat can be that a comp, after an all-girls school, esp a private, could appear to be Freedom Central, iykwim. I should've gone to a comp or the local Tech for A level, but obvs your DD isn't me! A lucky escape on your part