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Original poster

Is it wrong to choose a school on the basis of ethnicity?

54 replies

idiuntno57 · 07/09/2014 20:20

I live in a big city. Lots of kids travel a long way to go to 'the right' school for them. I am not sure I want my DC to have to travel so far although those who do get used to it pretty quickly.

Nearby we have one academically excellent school and one goodish comp. 98% of the kids in the academically excellent school are of a different racial origin from DC and his current friendship group. This difference is about 50% in the goodish comp which is a more accurate reflection of his current friendship groups.

Long term would it be bad for DC to be massively in the minority in this sense or is it irrelevant? Some of my friends are not even considering the academically excellent school because of the ethnic issues. Is this a wise decision?

OP posts:
MarsLady · 07/09/2014 22:19

My son went to a senior school were the ethnic make up was different to him. He made lots of friends (still friendly with them today - university) and had a good time at school.

Why not talk to parents at the school to get a feel of what the school is like?

Coolas · 07/09/2014 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thefishewife · 07/09/2014 21:11

It depends why

The make up of the school and the race of your child

If you didn't put your child in the school just because you didn't like Asians much say then yubu but if you felt say your child may be builled because they are a minority then Yanbu

My son is black and and this was a real factor in our choosing a school I didn't want him having to fight his way home or his self asteam being ebbed away like mine was

Have you thought about talking to the school about this what have they found, what support do they offer to minorities with in the school

Leeds2 · 07/09/2014 21:06

I personally would go for the closer, academic school and trust that the ethnic origin of the pupils would have no influence on my child's education whatsoever.

I would, probably, be concerned though if the 98% were all from one specific ethnic origin, rather than a mix. I am not sure if that would put me off.