Did you let your child pick which school they wanted?

I would look at the results of school B over a few years, and also look at the progress 8 score.

If it's a smaller school, with only around 100 in each year, then the performance of one individual will have more effect on the results.

Say there's 100 in the year, you'd expect 43 to pass maths and english, but actually only 37 did. But maybe the year before 46 did? Making it more average than below average.

B is looking like your best option at this stage. Check whether there are other contenders.

Think beyond schools. Which area do you want to live in long term? Which location offers you and your family what you need?

It sounds like either school is fine, so base the decision on your housing needs

I would let my kids have some say in what secondary they went to, but I’d want them to choose from a selection of schools that I was happy with. So I’d not let them choose one that was awful but if there were two better ones they could choose their preference.
Anyway I’d definitely let him go to the cadets school. It’s lovely he has a passion in life and he would enjoy his school experience so much getting to do pursue that.

I’d go for option A. Find a cadets out of school.

I’m not sure at 10/11 kids have much of a clue when it comes to what career they want - they are kids! Yes he might stick to the army idea but hugely possible he wouldn’t. Nor is there any guarantee if he did that he would make it through the first year, many don’t.

DD currently wants to be a vet by day and West End star by night. She’s 12. Year 11 we will talk more about what she’d like to do and the A Levels she will need. I think that’s a more appropriate age.

I would go for the school that suits best as a school, and he can do cadets at a free-standing cadet unit.

But I think you might be overspotimistic about being properly in your new place by the deadline. Just signing a lease might not be sufficient -you need to be actually living there and have changed all your admin to that address. Some councils are very hot on checking, especially if your move is within the borough as they check your council tax records and may look more closely at moves with suspicious timings.

Be aware that they do not have to prove you acted fraudulently, it is up to you to demonstrate that it is bona fide. So make sure your move is complete and you have totally surrendered old properly (even if breaking lease early costs you a bit)

Yes for both of mine. I thought they are the ones who will be attending this school for x years, so they chose (and in both cases it worked out fine).

If A was a viable option I would go A.

But honestly it doesnt look like it particularly is OP. All that for a school that doesnt suit him

Do you have other children? Could you move for somewhere on the B bus route that gives you A?

You need more information - how often is cadets, are there any cadets unassiciated with a school, can you hover at the school to see how kids behave ( I had to visit the headteacher of my DDs school once -many moons ago- and noticed the kids all smiling and laughing as they changed classes, teens were mor trying to look cool or edgy at my former school). What does he want to do in the army - what quals do they want. Are recruitment offices still around? what do they advise.

Eldest child had no choice as it was the only suitable specialist school devoted to his additional needs but youngest was given a limited choice. It was heavily influenced by one being all girls with better facilities and the other being mixed but 90% boys

Let him go to the cadet school. As parents we can try and guide them as much as possibly but ultimately it’s them that has to have the drive for it.

We had dramas about dd1 not wanting to college or uni. Caused huge fall outs. However she got herself an apprenticeship worked her way up and now travels the world for her career.

If your child has a seed of an idea what he would enjoy doing let him go for it. A child wanting to go to school is not to be overlooked.

@TracyMosby - it’s worth remembering that friendship groups do change a lot in the teenage years. DD now Year 8 didn’t go to the same school as any of her Primary school - I can’t say she didn’t mind this as she did and very much missed her two Primary best mates. They both went to a Grammar and DH was given a lot of sulks as he wouldn’t let her take the 11+ (he has strong political views on this).

However, the friendships have lasted as they regularly see each other out of school and at Scouts. Now they’re all Year 8, they’re all seeing more of school friends and naturally moving on.

My eldest DD (now 26) did go to the same school as her Primary friends. Good at first but 2/3 years in they had all including DD moved on to other groups.

Basically, it’s hard at first for them but honestly teenage friendships are really fluid! I really wouldn’t make an important decision based on where everyone else in going.

I'm letting my son choose!

His Dad wants grammar, DS wants a huge mixed school and I wanted a smaller mixed school!

My dd has been adamant she wants to go to the school all her friends are going to. This is my second choice.

My first choice nobody from her school will go. But is an outstanding school. And i think would be a better fit on size and attitude.

If she gets in to my choice 1, im sure we will have tears for months.

I don’t know. My mum wanted to send me to a private secondary, I insisted on going to the shitty secondary (not being a snob it was actually awful) and in hindsight she was very right.

No, not the final say. Actually I think it’s very unfair to put that ultimate decision on the shoulders of an 10/11 year old. Dispute what they think they want, a 10 year old just doesn’t have enough life experience to see the bigger long term picture

I let my DDs choose their school but tbh it was only because they passed the 11+ and both options were equally good. However I picked DSs school as his first choice ( based on friends) had a bad ofsted report so i picked his school, which he later admitted was the better choice.
So if the schools are roughly equal and are practical to get to then I would let them choose.
In your situation they both sound like good schools but if you need to move to get into them Im not sure how practical either of them are , also bare in mind that school ratings / exam results can change dramatically in the 5 years that your child is there for.

If he wants the Army or similar via the Cadets, they aren’t that bothered about A levels unless you are officer material. If you want something higher in the Army, they do recruit after degrees. So check out what he needs to do. I’m amazed you have left it so
Late to make decisions about schools and moving house. You knew what schools were on offer back in the summer. If he’s likely to be happiest at the “cadet school” I’d probably let him go but make sure you will be able to meet the residence criteria.

My elder 2 were in agreement with our preference but my youngest wanted to go somewhere else. We did listen to him but in the end over ruled him as whilst we recognised what he was saying in favour of the alternative was in fact true, there were major disadvantages which at that age, he just couldn't see. He was fixated on one subject - his favourite - and was quite right in that the provision for that subject was, at the time, superior. But that was the only plus point really. One thing we did that helped him understand a bit was to look at University entry requirements for his desired subject and show him what kinds of grades he would be expected to get in other subjects, not just the one, in order to get into the kind of courses he was expressing an interest in. Of course I had no idea at the time whether that interest would be sustained (he is 15 now and so far it has been) but I think it helped for him to feel that we were taking him seriously and not just saying "You're too young and it is our decision". Maybe a similar approach might help your DS OP?

School C at 2% (Jesus!) would be an absolute no way, no go for me. School B if it was on the National
Average I’d consider it but marginally below, personally it would be a no and I’d be going full out for A. That’s just me though! My DD is bright but lazy and I think works to the peer norm - she wouldn’t be the exception in a poorly performing school!

DS1 was given a choice but told we would make the ultimate decision if we felt he'd chosen the wrong option. He chose well!

DS2 just wanted to go to the same school as his friends which also happened to be our favoured school

No. A ten year old cannot understand the complexities. It’s a parent’s job to make decisions but with some consideration of the child’s preferences.

Sounds like you are leaning towards School B? For me it would depend on performance - you say School B’s aren’t quite as good. If that means under national and county averages then I’d discount them but if they are still above but not as high as A then it’s not going to be disastrous?