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Original poster

Comprehensive or weekly boarding?

31 replies

Merlinthefatcat1 · 27/11/2013 13:20

I have an 11 year old Year 7 who started at an independent day school in September (after being at a small, low-key, local prep school since nursery age). However, due to a job change, will have to move him at Christmas either to a local comprehensive or to weekly boarding at a well regarded independent school.

The comprehensive (which is quite rough) has recently started a 'pathway 1' route within it for the top 30/32 students in the year group (about top 12% of year group) and has said that my son is of the ability to join that class. However, its still a rough comprehensive with lots of problems (staff absences, cover teachers) and the tendency to fail to stretch the most able is entrenched - hence the new try with this 'pathway 1' idea.

When he went to visit/take the tests for Pathway 1 they didn't know he was coming and the pastoral lady (with lots of piercings said to him 'I bet you wonder what the F is going on!' So you can see the level we are dealing with. However it is very close to our house and is free and the new headmaster is very keen for the school to improve.

The weekly boarding would stretch us to the limit financially and we would also miss our son but as we both work full time it would give him a structured timetable which we can't. I have thought and thought about these two options and I can't decide what would be the best way forward. Has anyone any ideas?

We both attended rough comprehensives in East London in the early 1980s and they were hopeless!

OP posts:
friday16 · 27/11/2013 15:03

We both attended rough comprehensives in East London in the early 1980s and they were hopeless!

Although given you are now in jobs such that weekly boarding is even an option they can't have been that useless.

Timetoask · 27/11/2013 15:03

I don't have teenagers but I think if these are the only 2 choices, I would definitely go with the weekly boarding independent.

If he is to attend the dire comprehensive (the pathway 1 project is yet to be started, who knows if it will work,right?) he will need a strong daily structure and support at home to make sure he achieves well.

If you and your OH work full-time and will not be around to help him with his daily structure, then being at school will probably be best.

There was a thread on here earlier today (I think the poster was velvet something) talking about how her sons are not even getting to school on time, sometimes not turning up, she works full time, etc. I really think that teenagers need someone there encouraging them.

hermioneweasley · 27/11/2013 15:00

I don't understand why if he could stay in the comp, why he couldn't go to a day independent school instead of weekly boarding?

In the situation you describe, I would send him to an independent school if you coukd afford it.

kitnkaboodle · 27/11/2013 14:58

We briefly entertained the idea of weekly (or even 'flexi', by which I guess they meant board on odd nights whenever you like) boarding for our DS, until we realised (not having much experience of the private sector) that we would end up not seeing him for most of Saturday as well. So he'd be boarding on Friday night too so as not to miss lessons/sport on the Saturday Sad That swung it for us ..

MLP · 27/11/2013 14:51

Neither sound ideal. Are there absolutely no other options (eg, an independent non-boarding option)? Weekly boarding might be ok but I would be concerned re the financial pressure (and not seeing DS as much). Does he have any opinion on the options? Would he be happy with being away from home during the week?

I don't blame you for not being overwhelmed by the response of the lady at the comp. It sounded pretty unprofessional. However, if they genuinely have a top stream then that might be ok. However, you might want to get a better sense re the general attitude to learning. Are "swotty" kids picked on?

NoArmaniNoPunani · 27/11/2013 13:24

Oh you couldn't possibly send him somewhere where the pastoral lady has piercings Hmm

FFS

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