Sorry posting for traffic. Secondary school choices need to be made by next week.
School 1: academically significantly better. Anecdoatally pastoral care not as good. New head coming in, reputed to be excellent. In same direction as I’m going already so can help with lifts if weather horrid. 1 class friend going. Lunchtimes not as good- we think kids have to eat packed lunches outside.
School 2: similar distance (2 miles) opposite direction. Cycle paths for most of it but have to cross one rat-run type road without a crossing and not well lit (will be just dark when gets home around shortest days). Results definitely not as good. Pastoral care meant to be good. 3 swim club friends going but they will know lots of their school friends going up. Crucially dd prefers school 2 - we think because of the friends factor.
What do we do? Any thoughts. I’m struggling because dd has a preference although she really liked school 1 on open day she now seems to have reverted to favouring school 2 again. My head says school 1.