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Original poster

Secondary school choice help please

38 replies

Tryingtodoourbest · 22/10/2017 20:11

Dear all, I know this has been done to death but I hoped the wisdom of Mumsnet could give us some perspective. We have just come out of the 11+ experience and have to think about which school to choose.
To put in context, our ds is in year 6 at a large outstanding state primary. He is in top stream and top set Maths. We have been told he is clever but he is a dreamer and when the teacher’s back is turned will stare out of the window and take a while to settle into a task. Therefore he is better when he has someone pushing him. He is happy and comes across as a confident boy (although some of this is show as he can be insecure). He is very articulate so I think he charms people with his rhetoric. He is a lovely, compliant boy in many ways but doesn’t fit the studious self disciplined work ethic (yet) the grammar would expect.
It was no big surprise therefore that he missed the grammar pass mark. He did well but not enough (it seems that a lot of his cohort missed it this year but that is another story).

Anyway we now have a choice of three schools and not sure which would be best to go for. We have a good chance of getting a place at any. He likes all three.

School A: catchment comprehensive. This is our least favoured. Plus points: short walk to school. There will be many people he knows there (maybe even more this year given the 11+ results). Shiny new buildings.
Negatives: top 25% creamed off so not truly comprehensive and they don’t have a good reputation for stretching the top end. We didn’t ‘rate’ the senior teachers at open evening. Not a great start. Teacher retention is a problem.

School B out of borough comprehensive.
Plus points: truly comprehensive with good results. Strong leadership team. Short bus ride. Teacher retention is good. High expectations. Cater well for top end. Some of his friends will go here probably.
Negatives: it is unbelievably huge for a school so the buildings are cavernous (quite old) and he will be just a number. Not sure about this but if he is not as bright as we have been led to believe, he wouldn’t be in top sets, he is easily distracted and our fear is he would sink academically without the pushing he has had to focus.

School C small non-selective private (only private choice in area).
Plus: small class sizes. Lovely Family feel. He would be nurtured and known. Nowhere to hide so would be pushed to stay on task. Loads of other opportunities within school. Head is very impressive. I was educated in a school like this and have happy memories.
Negatives: only goes 11-16. Non- selective so they do well but but don’t have the top end and may not push for A*. Only one or two at most of his friends might go here. Worried it might be too small for him and not give him enough skills to cope with outside world (make him independent etc).

We like B and C very much but want the best outcome. We can afford the fees so that is not a factor but want to make sure we are doing the best rather than making do.
DH was educated in the comprehensive sector and did very well but is open to any of the options.

Sorry for the length of this and thanks in advance.

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Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 12/03/2018 13:05

Dear all,

Thanks for the replies on this thread. I thought we’d update. We gave up our place at the private school C as our son said it would definitely be too small for him - and we agreed. there was a big waiting list so we wanted someone else to have the place.

It was an unprecedented year as it happens and none of his friends got into school B. Their distance places moved back about a mile from the last few years (again given the poor in- catchment 11+ results leading to a rush on other school places).

So he is going to school A and he is delighted! We are fine about it and smiling to ourselves that having gone through all the angst, he is going to the catchment school after all. It should be a great cohort as all his non-grammar friends will be there too. The senior teacher I didn’t rate has left as well.

Funny how things work out! Thanks again

OP posts:
RedSkyAtNight · 23/10/2017 17:17

2nd choice - A and use the money available to supplement if necessary.

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 17:08

I would class A as a secondary modern and B truly comprehensive although both are officially comps. B will lose some to the grammars but not as many as A by far.

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Frankley · 23/10/2017 17:04

Are these schools secondary modern schools or truly comprehensive?

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 16:53

No definitely not in our case, he was too far under (surprisingly) and we’re not sure grammar is right for him now. Quite a few transfer for 6th form so that might be an option if he develops in that way and wants to.

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Taffeta · 23/10/2017 16:46

So no chance of appealing for grammar?

Padar · 23/10/2017 16:40

C

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 16:37

Thanks, have nothing against boarding school per se ( I boarded happily for a couple of years) but it is not something we would choose for our children.

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Davespecifico · 23/10/2017 16:34

Boarding school?

SimultaneousEquation · 23/10/2017 16:26

From those scores, B. Given you can't put C on your CAF, put B then A on the CAF, and decide whether you can afford C as a back-up. You can always appeal or ask for reconsideration if you don't get B, and you can go on the waiting list too.

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 15:58

This is all such a help thank you. Please keep it coming.

For those that have given your opinion so far can I ask as well. Supposing it is a bumper year for applications to B and we don’t actually get a place (would be unprecedented but you never know), A or C????

Grin thank you lovely people.

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semideponent · 23/10/2017 15:47

B. C sounds risky (financially - in that if numbers drop it may not remain viable - and academically, as it looks as though it still needs to make the shift to 9-1 grading).

A well-taught middle set is a magical thing. A good staff retention rate probably means the departments are being run well, staff are supported and that middle sets would be fine. Remember you'd also have spare cash for a tutor or two if you're not paying fees. That might help with any problems focusing.

averythinline · 23/10/2017 15:28

Its tricky - we went for our local which was somewhere between your A&B 9 form per year and moved ds after a year as it was too big for him...he didn't get lost though they just didn't have the resources to support him and a lot of change in teachers...(london so relatively high turnover expected)
I would probably go for B in your option if you think it is well managed a friends daughter goes to a v large school and it is so organised and she is v impressed..

.however C is too small - we went private but a 3 form entry although we had looked at a single form and ds had liked I wasn't so keen as lack of friendship options..

is there not another private you could look at? DS is further away than I would like and uses the school bus..

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 15:18

A!

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Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 15:18

Schools B and aa

Secondary school choice help please
Secondary school choice help please
OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 15:11

Hmm yes B is 99% for this category.

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RedSkyAtNight · 23/10/2017 15:05

Also look at attainment 8 for high achievers

SimultaneousEquation · 23/10/2017 15:04

School A has 94% A*-C for high prior attainment with English and Maths

Hmmm.... this is not awesome. 5 Cs should not be a struggle for high prior attainers. Compare with B's scores.

QGMum · 23/10/2017 13:27

As pp have said school C is too small for a secondary. Very little choice for friendships and the opportunities for extra-curricula must be very limited. Academically your ds may not be stretched due to lack of competition.

School B would be my choice. It sounds like a great school and, in that case, they will want to get the best results they can out of each pupil.

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 07:56

That is very helpful, thank you. School A has 94% A*-C for high prior attainment with English and Maths. More food for thought.

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cece · 23/10/2017 07:54

School B

I actually think bigger is better for secondary. My DD went to a big secondary school and she definitely was not just a number. They really pushed her to exceed her targets. Bigger means more resources in my opinion.

RedSkyAtNight · 23/10/2017 07:46

Those are the general school statistics? If you scroll down the page further you can see the breakdown by high/medium and low achievers (probably not for the private school) so I'd suggest looking at how high achievers at school A get on.

Agree with others that 36 children in a year group is way too small. Not only socially but in terms of opportunity.
There are 13 classes in a year group at my DC's school but they organise them into groups of classes, so they don't really feel the "bigness" of the school iyswim.

Original poster
Tryingtodoourbest · 23/10/2017 07:41

Scores:
A Progress 8 -0.11, attainment 8 44.7, GCSE 5+ incMaths and English 38%

B progress 8 0.31, attainment 8, 52.7, GCSE 5+ incMaths and English 55%

C no progress 8 score, attainment 8 53.4, GCSE A*-C (inc 4 I think and I know most scores were B) 84%

I would say looking at the different league tables, B andCare close to each other with B edging it. A is way down in comparison.

I think the main dilemma is that B and C couldn’t be more different in educational experience (size mainly). We know DS would fit into either - he is a sociable boy. A bit of a chameleon in that he would adapt his behaviour to fit the environment.

Thanks again.

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SimultaneousEquation · 22/10/2017 22:00

In A, your ds will be in top sets if he is a near moss for grammar, so I wouldn’t write it off just because the grammar kids are creamed off. For all the schools, I would look at progress 8 and attainment 8, and gcse, attendance rates etc. The private won’t have as much info out there, but it will have some of this. I don’t think it’s clear until you’ve gone onto the government comparison site and checked out the details.

Taffeta · 22/10/2017 21:59

“He doesn’t fit the studious self disciplined work ethic”

I’m not sure many Y6 boys do. It develops over time.