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Original poster

Secondary School: What's more important A Levels or GCSE results?

29 replies

CuriousToo · 17/02/2019 22:32

So we have been lucky for my DD to be accepted in 4 private secondary schools out of the 5 we applied to. Given all 4 have mostly what we were looking for, but if we choose based on last published exam results, what would be wise to look at: GCSE's or A level results?

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 17/02/2019 23:27

This is quite a complex question, I feel. There are so many reasons why this might or might not be a good idea!

Ideally your DD should go to the best fit school regardless of other children’s results. We applied for two schools and wouldn’t have entertained four so I guess you are London. Which school scored highly on the other factors you took into consideration when you applied?

We also let DDs have a view. It was to be their school. I would consider all the elements that make up a school, not just results. We were hugely impressed by enthusiastic staff for example. Being with hundreds of super bright children wasn’t so important.

I assume you chose the schools based on your DDs personality and educational attainment. If the schools are miles apart in results, still choose best fit! You will find many schools lose pupils after GCSEs so they are probably a more reliable indicator as the cohort has been at the school from y7. Schools then accept new children into the 6th form and set the bar high. In my DDs school, lots of Chinese girls would arrive and boost STEM results. So the cohort changed quite significantly. Look into the results but look beyond them as well.

HotpotLawyer · 17/02/2019 23:26

They all reflect the intake.

Original poster
CuriousToo · 17/02/2019 23:24

Isn't it easier to choose a school that excells in the A levels to avoid changing again - and going through a similar process? (I didn't get my education in the UK so am trying to learn how the system works on the go...)

OP posts:
BackforGood · 17/02/2019 23:16

If she is starting at 11, then GCSEs.
You can make choices again for A-Level