Can you help me choose between these schools for DD. South Manchester

[SchoolDecision19]

Have NC as outing.

SCHOOL ONE
Loreto High, Chorlton.
This is the school her older brothers attend.
So pro's are she is guaranteed a place. She already has siblings there to help her navigate.
She will have someone to accompany her to and from school.
Cons. It's just not a great school results wise, though my sons enjoy going there and we've never had any issues.

SECOND SCHOOL William Hulme Grammar.

Although it's not a grammar, it's an academy. No entry tests.

We visited this last night. Seems a good school, good facilities.
It's closer than Loreto and I could go this route to drop my youngest off at primary so could walk DD. (Please not it is her that wants to be accompanied by me for now at least)

. And finally, the wildcard.
Didsbury high

Which is a new build and not yet had any GCSE results come from it. They only just had their first year 7 intake September.

However their sister school Cheadle Hulme is excellent and I have added CHEADLES rating as a hopeful example of what Didsbury could be achieving but it's not a given. But it is the same trust.

We haven't visited this school yet as open evening isn't for a few weeks. We are booked on a parent tour too.

It's so confusing.

Any ideas?

How would she travel to each one? And which ones are her current school friends going to?

All are within walking distance.
William Hulme is closest.
There are busses every 5 mins on the route to Didsbury high but again she could walk.

But her dad works from home and can drive her there and back wherever she goes (her brothers choose to walk)

2 friends are going to Loreto that we know of.
1 to WH
1 to Didsbury.

I’m trying to make this decision for my boys at the moment although they don’t have siblings at school. It is SO hard!

Personally, I’ve looked at the pastoral and SEN provision above GCSE and Ofsted reports as I’d rather a school that supports learning rather than results being the be all and end all. But then, my boys have SEN so .

I’ve done a chart which we’ll use over the weekend to score each school - distance, personal preference, notes about what they particularly liked, Ofsted report, and SEN support are what we’ll score them out of, from 1st place to 6th. DH and I will get final say because we have twins and so far they’re leaning towards different schools!

It is so hard.

DD doesn't have any SEN needs so it's not something I've looked into but pastoral care seems good over all 3.

I’m generally not a worrier by honestly, the thought that my lovely sensitive boys could get picked on is keeping me up at night

I can’t help with the individual schools but I think working out a scoring system will help. My boys liked the schools where the food tech rooms had cooking going on lol!

:( It's a worry for every parent but yes I can see how that would be especially a worry for you.
A scoring system is a great idea.

Food tech is my daughters favourite subject too :)

Not loteto, though you have kids there already and haven't experienced issues, I know plenty who have. I'd go William Hulme personally.