This year I have to decide which secondary school (state) for my DS and I’m in a total dilemma about it. It’s basically between School A or B, which are a couple of miles away from each other. No open evenings last year, and I won’t have time to judge based on this year’s – if we go for school B, we’d have to move before end of October. So, here are my options:
School A we’re in catchment for, just. We’d probably get in via the waiting list. It got a very poor Ofsted 3 years ago, but a new head has come in and is turning things around. Historically, results have been well under average, but 2019’s were good, above average. No results available for last year due to Covid. It’s situated on the edge of a pretty deprived housing estate and draws 20% of its intake from here. The remaining 80% come from a fairly affluent middle class suburb. Locally it’s popular, I’ve only every heard good things but I don’t know anyone personally who sends their kids there. Pastoral care supposed to be good. From the outside, the buildings look very tatty which I know isn’t the be all and end all, but it looks uninspiring. Not sure about sports facilities but it does a lot of Duke of Edinburgh apparently.
School B is the natural follow on for my son’s primary. Around two thirds of his class will go to this school, and it’s his first choice mainly for this reason. I’m not being swayed by this as I know he’ll easily make new friends wherever he goes. School B is academic and gets excellent results, is in the top 20% of state secondaries based on academic performance. Intake is middle class achieving parents who push their kids. I’ve heard that tutors are used a lot. Less bright or willing pupils may struggle, I’ve heard mixed things about pastoral care. It’s got amazing sports facilities, excels in science and languages. The catchment however is tiny...
DS is fairly average academically but could go either way. He’s super sociable, likes to be popular, is easily distracted. Likes sport. Is good at maths but lacks confidence. With encouragement, he will work hard. I’m worried that if he’s around kids that mess about, he’ll simply slack off. School A might be quite nurturing for him compared with B, where he might feel ‘bottom of the class’ if they’re all very achieving.
My dilemma is that I’m a single parent, and a move will be huge upheaval. To find somewhere in catchment that’s affordable is going to be a struggle. The whole thing will be a nightmare I think. But I want to do what’s best for him. For me, financially, School A is far, far easier. But School B seems like the better option academically and socially.
What would you do?