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Original poster

Not choosing local school impact socially

28 replies

Mobey78 · 05/11/2023 12:24

Those of you who chose to not send DC to the local secondary school how has it been for them socially?

The town we live in has one secondary school which is not good - poor reputation and poor academic results.

We're considering sending our DC to a school in a neighbouring town but I'm slightly concerned about what impact this may have socially.

Does anyone have any positive stories of not using the local option but their DC still being able to maintain local friendships ?

OP posts:
Bluevelvetsofa · 05/11/2023 12:36

You may state your preference for a school further away, but will you meet the admission criteria?

Ahtishoo · 05/11/2023 12:33

My DC doesn’t go to the local school. We are in a small community so it is relatively easy to maintain friendships. There are kids he is friends with because they are all in the same village, not just because they went to the same primary. Obviously it takes more effort than if was with them on the school bus etc. What’s particularly good is that he also now has a completely new group of town friends from high school.

Brownhairdontcare · 05/11/2023 12:29

Kind of a different scenario because I'm in London, so there are loads of schools to choose from, but my eldest didn't go to the 'obvious' school a lot of her friends went to. It just wasn't quite the right fit for them. They're all in year 8 now and are still friends, recently went trick or treating together! But the choice of going to a different school really helped pave the way for new friendships to be made, which was very helpful after a slightly 'tense' year 6. If it's a better school for your child then go for it, so many friendships shift and alter once they're in secondary anyway x