State selective vs. fully comprehensive

[textingdisaster]

Hi

I am sure this has been done before , but here goes...

Dd1 is in Year 6 so we are applying for her secondary school place. She will be going to one of the three local state comprehensives that she could have got into. We are lucky that they are all "good" and that we had that choice. The one she is going to go to is by far my preferred one of the three and her brother (ds1 now in Year 8) already goes there.

Out of dd1's 5 closest friends, only one is going to another of these 3 schools (also with a sibling already there). The others have all been doing tests to get into various further away selective state schools (and one religious one which is not an option for us). I was talking to the Mum of one of these girls and she told me that as she was her first child she wanted to do what was best for her which made me feel a bit and .

The reason we haven't gone down the test route is partly because it is the last thing dd1 would have wanted and partly because of my non-competitive (unambitious and passive?) nature. I mean who wants to compete with 100s of other children / families to just not get in (is how I justified myself to myself)? Also these selective schools mostly seem to be girls' schools and I think it is nice for dd to go to the same school as ds.

It now turns out that some of dd's friends are getting places (either through things like musical aptitude or passing the test) and I am wondering if I have done the right thing.

I like lots of things about the school dd will go to. Good head, switched on friendly teachers and a good atmosphere to name a few. It is also a 20 / 25 min walk away (though ds says he has walked it in 15 and run it in 7 ). However the selective schools have the edge academically.

I suppose I am wondering if I am afflicting my dc with my own lack of ambition??

"But the teachers don't seem fussed about lack of progress because she's still achieving more than a lot of other kids in her year."

I'm amazed they feel like that- I wonder what happens at the progress tracking meetings? What happens when you talk to the Head of Year about her lack of progress?

Haklyut, dunno never spoken to the HOY about it.

Her teachers are all happy with her and say she's doing well. When I've questioned the progress there's always a reason. Its mainly been maths and just last week at parents evening half term.

I'm not fussed about maths as long as she passes her gcse. She has no intention of carrying it on at a level.

Her science teacher reckoned her current level is a blip but that she's been letting herself down with her homework. So we talked about dividing her homework into sub headings to ensure she covers what needs covering to get Lvl 7 (they get a learning ladder thing with each homework). And I've said she's to show me all her science homework for the next few weeks.

In the subjects she's interested in she's predicted As for her gcses. Even her science teacher said she ought to do triple science for gcse so I don't think she's that worried. Says she's capable of getting level 7. So I do think she's coasting.

Sorry, meant just last week it was science as well as maths.

OK.

I would be camped on the doorstep if she were mine- but, as Mumsnet would say "we're all different!"

Have looked up the value added scores and have found the 2013 results:

                                      Disadv.  Others

Best 8 VA measure 983.5 999.8
Best 8 VA lower 95% confidence limit for disadvantaged pupils. 966.5 987.9
Best 8 VA upper 95% confidence limit for disadvantaged pupils 1000.5 1011.6

Have read that 1000 is average?

The things that stand out for me from your post are a good head. Really, thats not to be sniffed at. Yes I agree!

Will also keep this in mind: As for the GCSE grades... Well you lowering your expectations is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If your daughter's capable of good grades in one school, she's capable if the same grades anywhere. Thank you .

disadv and others was meant to top the two scores