Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Which secondary school?

31 replies

Kia79 · 24/09/2023 20:44

Hi. I'm in a major dilemma. DD is in Y6 so we've got to pick a secondary school very soon.

We've got two secondary schools in our town. One is a 5min walk and the other is a 30min walk. The one further way is a much better school (academically and better facilities etc) but DD wants to go to the closer one...because she doesn't want to walk the 1.3miles to get there every day!

I've said she could get a bus for the days that it's chucking it down with rain but otherwise she'll have to walk.

I'm not in a position to drive her or pick her up and nor is her dad.

Should we choose a school based on distance or opportunities and results? Is a 1.3mile walk really that far?

Help!

OP posts:
clary · 24/09/2023 21:01

oh wow those P8 scores are a bit different eh? How small is the one that is a third of the size? Other things being equal (ie if student would get a place at the larger school and could easily get there) I would choose a school around 1000 over one of about 350 [picks slightly random figures].

Original poster
Kia79 · 24/09/2023 20:59

Hey. Thanks for the quick replies.

We're on the edge of the catchment area but we are very likely to get into either. We have visited both schools quite a few times now and the only thing that's swaying her is the distance.

The closer school has always been notorious for being the underdog school, doesn't do well academically (it's progress 8 score is -0.4 vs +0.5) and is a third of the size (which I know comes with its advantages but it's severely underfunded). If we lived closer to the better school, there wouldn't be a dilemma. It's simply on distance!

Good to know that it's not unreasonable to walk 1.3miles though so I don't feel like a bad parent suggesting it! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
LadyGeorginaSmythe · 24/09/2023 20:57

Similar decisions here...5-10 min walk vs 30 mins. We're viewing both (& a 3rd, also 30 min walk but all uphill!) and I've suggested the kids choose on gut feel. From an academic point of view there not a lot to choose except the uphill one is slight worse. The kids have to get themselves there everyday so they can live with their decision. I think bright kids will do well anywhere if they have a decent work ethic. Kids who need more support to apply themselves probably need a school which will push them more. My son will be fine anywhere. My daughter needs more consequences for not trying her best...she's a daydreamer! I don't want them to go to different schools but they are very different people so I'm open to the fact they may select different first choices once we've seen them all.
I think it's good to genuinely take account of kid's views and opinions, but as parents we'll be thinking about other things too, and just because we place one school higher than another on the application doesn't mean they'll get a place anyway.

KnickerlessParsons · 24/09/2023 20:54

Has she actually walked to the furthest away school? Does she realise how close 1.3 miles is? About 25 mins, 20 if she gets a shufty on.

clary · 24/09/2023 20:51

Yeps both of those sound eminently workable in terms of distance. So I would be looking at a host of other factors first. Visit them, look at school size, discipline, GCSE options, behaviour, vibe of school.

And yy check if she will get a place at the further one before you go much further in the process.

redskytonights · 24/09/2023 20:49

Have you actually visited both schools? Has your daughter? Is she likely to get a place at the further away school? Is the difference in schools worth the extra distance?

In answer to your question, no, 1.3 miles is not too far to walk/cycle. But make sure you're picking the school for the right reasons.