We have to decide on a state secondary school for DD1 this year and I'm getting really worried.The catchment school has always had a bad name,I went there and swore that I'd never inflict it on a child of mine.Classes were continually disrupted,things set on fire,if you were quiet or tried to work,you'd be bullied for being 'posh'.No one I knew went to university,I left at 16 just to get away from the place.
I've tried to put my bad experience aside and was gradually coming around to her having to go there,helped by the fact that it was rated good in it's most recent OFSTED inspection.However,last month it was inspected again and was classed as inadequate across the board and put into special measures.There were serious concerns about attainment,quality of teaching and pupils' behaviour.
The only other school locally is smaller,but has an equally bad reputation for behaviour and a serious drug problem.Parents are pulling their kids out left right and centre.If DD1 goes to this school,I will have to drop her off and pick her up every day,as there is no transport provided,which at least means that she won't be hanging about the place after school.She'll only just have turned 11 when she goes and is not at all street wise.
She wants to go where her friends are going,but a lot are going private if they can afford it.We can't,but could manage to pay for a tutor if need be.
My head is spinning,I really wanted better for my DDs and am gutted that the choice of schools is so bad. DH doesn't come from around here and doesn't know quite how poor they are.He seems unconcerned about it all.