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Original poster

Schooling for an academically middle of the cohort sort of girl

31 replies

ArundelTomb · 09/06/2016 10:18

DD is academically average. I had thought she'd go to the local selective day school (like her older brothers). But it's becoming clear that's unlikely and even if she has a bit of a spurt in the coming years, I'm not certain an academically pushy school would work well for her. I'm not disappointed in any way. She's very popular, a real joiner-iner and has enjoys lots of out of school activities.

So now we have to think again about schools. Would you send her to an outstanding comp down the road which is absolutely fine for the academics but it doesn't really offer her much for her interests. Or would you send her to a fee-paying school for academically average girls Grin? Where they do lots of music, drama and art and have a superb languages offering? (She is very keen on all of those things.)

It's a lot of money for the girls' school: over £20K per annum once you've factored in the bus and uniform. We can afford it.

What are the pros and cons of a big mixed, outstanding comp on the doorstep, or a small froo froo girls' school?

OP posts:
mary21 · 09/06/2016 18:40

My bil teacher reckons its the middle of the road kids that actually benifit most from Indie schools.

Original poster
ArundelTomb · 09/06/2016 18:34

amidawish - I wish I knew how. Can you give me any clues as to how to assess the comp with a fine tooth comb?

I think getting the best fit school is more important than whether or not we pay so as to make things equal with her brothers. So long as everyone gets what they need, then I don't think the money matters.

Perhaps a bit arrogant of us, but we had assumed we were clear about where our children would go to school. Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. As they say. Grin

OP posts:
amidawish · 09/06/2016 17:59

that is a really tough one.
what does she think? have you taken her around both?

go through the outstanding comps results with a fine toothcomb. don't just look at averages.

HangingRockPicnic · 09/06/2016 13:00

Dd goes to a comp which I'm very happy with, but i think the froo froo school. Won't she find it a bit odd if she doesn't get money spent on school fees because she's not as academic as her brothers? Also won't an average child need smaller classes more than her more academic brothers did? Which school does she prefer?

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/06/2016 10:20

I think she has more chance of developing her personality if she has forces to push against - does that make sense? The froo froo girls school sounds like it will keep her in a bit of a box, whereas at the comp she may actually be pushed harder.

And you can buy a lot of extracurriculars in music and drama for 20k a year...

What does she want to do?

Original poster
ArundelTomb · 09/06/2016 10:20

She's also not sporty.

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