To wonder why when choosing a school parents go for the easiest option despite it not always being the best choice for their kids.

[Jackpack]

My Ds is due to start high school in September. We put down a catholic school with a great reputation, good feel to it and with excellent ofsted reports and results and for our second choice we put down an equally good community school, both around 2.5 miles away. My Ds does go to Catholic primary so he'll move up with the majority of his friends, most of whom live closer to the school but he'll also have kids in his year that live close by to us as one of our local primaries is a feeder to the secondary, so making friends local shouldn't be a problem.

The reason I chose these two schools is quite simple, the rest in our town are diabolical, in every way imaginable. I wouldn't ever want my child to go there and if we'd have been allocated one of these schools then I'd have quit my job to joke school him. That's how bad they are! So, there are I think seven children in our street in the same year as my Ds so they are going to secondary as well this year. Each of their parents have chosen one of the failing schools to send them to and two of my friends, and a family member have chosen to do the same.

Obviously it is their choice to send their child to whichever school they like but why on earth they have chosen these schools i don't know, but then it dawned on me, because it's easier for them, the parents not the child I mean.

Sending their kids to the nearest school means they won't have to get up early and drive them to school. One of my friends was on Facebook recently raving that she can stay in bed longer come September as she won't have to take her child to school. I mean come on. I realise that a lot of kids do go local and there are certainly advantages to that including walking with friends etc but what's more important, thier kids get to walk to school with friends or that they get a better education. If all the schools in the area are equally as good then o can see why parents would want their kids to go to the local school, but when they're all exceptionally bad why not try for a better school slightly further away. It's just seems like laziness to me.

I had the choice of two schools, one ofsted 'outstanding' the other 'adequate'
I chose adequate as it was the best fit, I've also just got one of mine in to one 'needing improvement'

Im happy that actually they are better schools for my child, I've researched it. Ive spent a lot of time looking into it, I've spoken to the governors and other parents. Im sure they will be better for my child, more nurturing, more supportive and more 'fun'. They are also both my nearest, but that plays no part. You would perhaps judge me as 'lazy' rather than informed and making the best choice for my child.

I think you are looking for a fight or a medal or both

I refuse to discuss the catholic side of things. I mentioned it was a catholic school and that's the end of it. I'd have been just as happy if my Ds had got into his second chicks school as it's just as good and he'd know just as many kids there as he would at the school he's going to.

So now you've had a myriad of suggestions put forward for their choices Jack are you any clearer? Which one/s do you think it might be?

If the community school is so fantastic then surely it's over subscribed and they wouldn't have been offered a place if there are other schools nearer? They may have wanted to avoid being allocated a school they had no choice in at all.

Excellent schools are usually hugely oversubscribed and you have to live extremely close to get in.

That's exactly what I don't want my kids to think of me in a few years BeALert, that I'd chosen to send them to a rubbish school because it was easier for me.

What are "joke schooling" and "second chick school"? If you're going to look down on others for what you perceive as laziness, perhaps you're projecting.

badtime
The catchment area around here is massive for secondary, one that we could chose is 30 miles away. You couldn't get public transport easily there.

Another they run a bus to as its 20 miles, but obviously if yours want to do after school club or whatever its going to leave you doing the school run.

Only had this for primary so far, but we moved to be closer to our DC school so they could walk there every day and shock - it was only just above special measures. We went and viewed the Ofsted outstanding school and decided it wasn't what we wanted in a school, then we viewed the one they attend out of desperation and loved it - the ethos of the school means every child is accepted and applauded and we loved it. So do our dc. my family think we are nuts but they send their dc to the CoE school and I would but religious schools at the very bottom of my list every time (the odd hymn in assembly grates enough as it is!)

I chose the best school for my dc, and that was the 'failing' school!

Oh for goodness sake how am I a better parent simply because I chose to send my child to a good school? I could be a horrible parent in real life (I'm not though) you're just assuming.

Maybe they are actively against faith schools. I really don't agree with them and I would never, in a million years, send my child to a faith school.

if we'd have been allocated one of these schools then I'd have quit my job to joke school him

Such a pity that didn't happen. I think your son would've enjoyed being joke schooled.

Of course it relevant if you work. You can't be driving around for miles in the morning to drop the kids to school when you've got to get to work. If you're a stay at home mum youve got more time.

No, you've done your research and you felt it was the best place for your child so why would I judge you. My friend however like I said has chosen her child's school on the basis of what's easiest and I very much doubt she's even looked at other schools.

Nobody thinks you are a better parent. People think that YOU think you are.

On the whole parents are not lazy. Because having kids is a fuck tonne of work.

It's called predictive text and I hit the submit button a little too soon. Sorry, but how am I projecting?

I agree with whitepillow hell would freeze over before I sent my child to a catholic school, having spent a couple of years at convent school myself. These parents may well be saying much the same about you OP. Although probably not, as they are probably focused on their own dc rather than bitching about others choices.

I think yabu.

Firstly not all DC can get into the good schools. When the good schools are full where do you expect them to go?

Secondly, if a DC is willing to learn I feel it doesn't matter which school they attend.

Thirdly, it's none of your business.

I'm not discussing the faith aspect. The primary school I chose to send my children to is the most loveliest, caring, nurturing school you can imagine and believe it or not they don't shove the religion element down your throat, and neither does the secondary school. I should know as half my family have sent their kids there, I've been to four open days and have been in to speak with the head, deputy head and other teachers twice. So don't put down faith schools, especially if you've never been to one or know what they're really about.

I doubt that their choices are governed by the wish to lie in bed. Most secondary schools are on bus routes, so teenagers can get to them just as easily whether they're just up the road or two miles away. So either way the parent who wants a lie-in will get it.

Why do you care what your friend chose for her child? You 'very much doubt' that she's looked at other schools, but really, you don't know, do you?

In terms of secondary, the dc around here seem to have a huge say in which school they will attend. The secondary's but loads of things on for the year 5/6s to attend to get a feel for the school, workshops, trips, special events etc. I assume my dc will choose where to go and will write that on the form and send it off tbh.
My parents tried to send me to the very good gram, I went for half a term, never entered a classroom because I refused point blank to wear a green pleated skirt and straw boater (major tomboy!) and spent the whole time in the heads office being screamed at... then they relented and I went to the local comp, had a great time with friends I still have today and did really well. Mine can choose for themselves from the start. They have to choose one that they can get to and back as I don't drive, but it will be up to them.

Ofsted reports are notoriously unreliable. Often the supposedly failing school which is having a lot of resources pumped into it is a better bet than the coasting "Outstanding" school that gets results mainly by easing out anyone they think might adversely affect their statistics.