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Original poster

Tell me about your child thriving at (comprehensive) school

64 replies

Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:23

DC is in yr6. Our local comp is absolutely fine. New SLT last year that have good aspirations. Decent curriculum. But, like all state schools it suffers from a lack of resources and large class sizes. It's run down and has very limited facilities. We've been on two tours, and both times the kids looked pretty bored and the atmosphere in the classrooms was quite 'flat'. But, it's where the majority of local kids go, DC can get there under their own steam, will have local friends, go up with friends from primary, etc.

Have your kids thrived in a similarly not terrible, but not terribly inspiring school? I'm worried they're going to be bored and unmotivated :(

OP posts:
LighthouseCat · 26/09/2023 21:45

Both mine are doing well academically and I'm really impressed with their teachers - they seem genuinely enthusiastic about their subjects and about teaching. It's a school with a good ofsted rating. It took DC2 a while to settle but Covid didn't help. We could have gone down the selective grammar route but neither DC wanted that. I think they'll both leave with very strong grades and lots of good memories of their school days. I think you need to talk to parents who have children at your local comp now (and definitely don't just talk to those who decided not to send their DC there; so many of our friends were very against our local comprehensive; they were so misinformed)

Rabbitbrain · 26/09/2023 21:43

My nephew goes to a school like this. It has been ok. In some ways it’s a shame because he’s bright and conscientious and has just been treading water. Not inspired at all! But it’s the local school, he’s got good friends and is happy. It sounds like you’re not going to get a top notch education locally, so you have to decide whether friends and independence are more important than that. A lot depends on the child I think.

clary · 26/09/2023 21:43

Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:40

No, nothing like that. The local comp doesn't even 'set' the kids, I don't think. So all classes are mixed ability.

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I'd be very surprised if they didn't set for at least maths. I've never come across a secondary school that didn't.

shockeditellyou · 26/09/2023 21:42

This is where we are at. Local comp is fine, not great, not massively aspirational. Private options are both super expensive and very, very competitive. We don’t have much of a choice, tbh.

idontknow54789 · 26/09/2023 21:42

The replies to this seem particularly dismissive. If your child is from a loving family who fined him plenty of other opportunities he will be fine. And I talk from someone who has worked at particularly poor inner London schools. If you can stretch yourself get a tutor but don't bankrupt yourself on private education if you can't afford it.

Original poster
Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:41

cansu · 26/09/2023 21:39

Your kids will be fine. If you can afford the nice surroundings and photo opps then go for the private. However I wouldn't put yourself under financial pressure for it.

Yeah, I'm sure they will be fine. I guess it's about wanting more than fine...

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Original poster
Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:40

TreeHuggerMum1 · 26/09/2023 21:38

Any selective schools around, grammar stream / 11+ senior schools?

No, nothing like that. The local comp doesn't even 'set' the kids, I don't think. So all classes are mixed ability.

OP posts:
cansu · 26/09/2023 21:39

Your kids will be fine. If you can afford the nice surroundings and photo opps then go for the private. However I wouldn't put yourself under financial pressure for it.

TreeHuggerMum1 · 26/09/2023 21:38

Any selective schools around, grammar stream / 11+ senior schools?

Original poster
Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:37

Should add that it only goes up to GCSE. Then there's the option of a 6th form college in the next town which I think is outstanding (great results, great leavers' destinations, etc)

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Original poster
Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:36

@Dacadactyl It ha a 'good' Ofsted (under previous SLT) and gets good results. Above the local/ national average. We have the money to supplement at home in terms of extra-curricular, trips, supporting their interests, etc.

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Original poster
Flockameanie · 26/09/2023 21:34

@unfor this is pretty much exactly where my head's at! Yes, we could just about afford private. There's one local private school, which we're going to check out (non selective and I'm not convinced by its website). Anything else is further afield requiring a school minibus. I really want my DC to have local friends and to develop independence through their teen years.

My decision making is totally blurred by my own experience. I went to a nice, small, low-key private school many moons ago and I loved it. Education is really important to me (I work in HE) and I want my kids to be inspired and motivated to learn at school...

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Dacadactyl · 26/09/2023 21:34

What's the school like in terms of OFSTED and results?

DD did fantastically well at her outstanding secondary, but they didn't do many extracurriculars. It was a great school for her and she thrived there.

DS didn't get into her school so he is at a "Good" school. They don't do well in results at all, but offer more subject choices at GCSE and extracurricular stuff (trips abroad, plays etc)

I would still prefer him to be at DDs old school. Depends on the child and what you can offer at home as well.

unfor · 26/09/2023 21:28

Have you got the money to go private? I say this as somebody who is very against private education, and would have hesitated to send my own DC private even if I could have afforded it. But I can't help thinking that kids who go private have a much more fulfilling educational experience and a nicer experience of school - less noisy, busy, and aggressive. Obviously it depends on the state school, but our local school is like the one you describe and it's bearable rather than inspiring. As somebody who really cares about education and learning, it's been a pretty dispiriting experience seeing my DC go through that, knowing that other children are having a more rewarding and gentle experience elsewhere.

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