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Original poster

If you were me, which of these schools would you put as your first choice?

58 replies

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 17/09/2022 09:50

DD is in Y6, so we're about to start applying for her secondary school place. We have a reasonably good chance of getting either of the following schools:

School A: mixed comprehensive. Rated Good by Ofsted in 2018. Considered, both locally and by the CEO of an organisation called "inclusion expert" to give the most outstanding pastoral care and support to its students. The entire school ethos seems to be focused on getting the best from each individual child, in a supportive and creative way.

However, Whilst situated in what would be considered an affluent area it is on the edge of a super output area with high levels of deprivation and poverty, including one ward which is in the top 25% for low income and crime, so the starting point for a lot of these kids makes this a challenging aim. Also, their exam results really aren't great - below average not just for the area, but for England. The impression I got when I attended the open evening last year was that this is at least in part because the school's focus is on well-being over academic achievement. I really loved it at the time, it just had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and the Head seemed like an incredible women. Inspired and driven.

School B: Outstanding single sex girls comprehensive. 56% of pupils achieved grades 9-7 in last year's GCSEs. Pastorally, it's considered good. Very popular with local parents, and I've heard nothing bad about it. I couldn't attend their open evening last year as it got cancelled by Health England so haven't had the chance to form my own opinion yet.

We're going to attend open evenings and working day visits at both, which will hopefully help us decide, because at the moment I keep going back and forth between "my main priority for DD is her health and well-being, and school A will prioritise that", and "but the whole reason for going to school is to get decent exam results, and school B will give her the best chance of that."

Other schools in the area we either have no chance of getting or have similar exam results to school A but without the outstanding pastoral care.

As for DD herself, she's autistic and extremely bright and academic. No learning difficulties but does very much struggle socially and with anxiety, hence pastoral care and a supportive environment being such a priority. She's a loner, but does tend to prefer boys to girls, and isn't keen on a single sex school. A lot of other girls from her primary school will go to school B; hardly any, if any at all will go to school A (there's a lot of snobbery about it, some parents recoiled in horror when I mentioned I was considering it!) DD regards not knowing anyone as a positive - I get the impression she's rather hoping to reinvent herself at secondary.

Finally, I have mixed feelings about single sex education. I know a lot of research says it's better for girls, but I went to an all girls school and had a truly awful time, my life was made miserable by other girls. DD is not me, though, so I'm trying not to let that cloud my viewpoint! She has a younger brother, so it would certainly be easier to have them both at the same school.

Well done if you got through that essay! I'd really love to hear from other parents who've made a similar choice, or from teachers with some expertise to share. Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 17/09/2022 10:13

I admit to not really understanding the Progress 8 score, but school A's is rated "well below average" at -0.4. 😕 Admittedly that's from 2019, which is the most year they have data for due to Covid.

School B's is "well above average" - 0.81.

OP posts:
Beltloop · 17/09/2022 10:12

I would argue that the whole point of school is not just to get exam results. It’s to gain confidence, make friends, find your interests. If she is miserable in school B she’s not likely to do well. If school A isn’t giving her enough challenge perhaps she could have a tutor.

My daughter is autistic but only 5. My priority will always be where will she be happiest and most understood and most likely to meet other autistic kids.

ElvenDreamer · 17/09/2022 10:11

Hi, it all feels so stressful doesn't it?! My background is I have DD in a single sex school yr7, and DS in yr 6 choosing schools as we speak, he is also autistic and very bright. Based on what you've written, school B seems logical purely based on pastoral, and most importantly, what your daughter wants. If she is happier, she will do well. If the school is a bit under par results wise, that may just be the demographic, not the teachers. I went to a really rough comprehensive, hated it, but came out with straight As so cant really fault the teaching, also was supported from home and encouraged to work. There is always an option if you can afford it later on of some tutoring or extracurricular stuff to support learning if you want to academically boost.

My daughter is loving her single sex school, it's a highly selective grammar and she is very academic, but most importantly she was desperate for a single sex environment as has found boys in her learning environment highly irritating.

My son sits 11+ today, there was a choice of 2 schools from that assuming he gets the marks, 1 is considered 'better' than the other, but it won't even go on our form because when he looked round, he didn't like it. We're also looking at various other schools and his biggest criteria is size, he wants the smallest school possible, and I know he has to feel comfortable.

Some of the schools we've looked at have appalling overall exam results, but a few local news searches show individuals from them with fabulous results, showing it is possible.
I'd be guided by your daughter and the 'feel' of the schools on the open days. Also, try and request to speak to sencos on open days, you'll get a much better idea of how your DD would be supported.

Sorry for a long rambly answer, hope it helps in some way!

TeenDivided · 17/09/2022 10:05

When you exam results aren't good, is that from a pure % rate or also is progress not good, ie Progress 8?

I'd go with A if Progress 8 is OK even if overall results low, maybe B otherwise.

Elsanore · 17/09/2022 10:04

Both schools have significant advantages and sound great in different ways. Therefore I think you should let your Dd decide, that will feel empowering for her and you don't have to decide!

Original poster
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 17/09/2022 10:03

Thank you both, some excellent points to consider. DD at the moment is much keener on school A (my fault, I came back from last year's open evening singing its praises), but I'm asking her to keep an open mind and at least consider school B.

OP posts:
Lulumo · 17/09/2022 09:59

For an autistic girl she is more likely to meet like minded girls at the more academic school.

However, you need to meet the senco at each school and discuss what support they will give your autistic child that’s the most important thing. Whether it’s social skills courses, additional help in English which many autistic kids struggle with even when academic as inference is hard.

If your autistic child is able and you send them to a less academic school then often they will get overlooked as they are keeping pace academically even though they may be struggling in other areas.

I went for a middle ground good but not excellent academically but amazing sen support. Good pastoral support is NOT the same as good sen support from my experience.

Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 17/09/2022 09:58

I'd go for B although obviously I'd follow what your daughter prefers after visiting! But my initial reaction to your post is B. Remember the Head will not be in every lesson and they are very good at turning on the charm on open evenings. My gut feeling (maybe unfair) is that reading between the lines, A has to focus on pastoral stuff and inclusion because the cohort is challenging, and it's impossible to focus on academics when the basics aren't being met. I'm a secondary teacher so am somewhat experienced in school spiels although I could be totally off the mark here! Definitely go and look at both and see how your daughter responds. I will also say that I went to a co-ed and my best friend was a boy - I had a lovely school experience and came out with very good GCSEs so I'm not anti co ed at all.