Secondary school anxiety

[Greentoytractor]

My DD starts secondary in September. In all likelihood we're going to get allocated our local comp which seems to achieve consistently below average results (I've been pouring over all the data).

My DD is quiet, sensitive and very academic. A lot of her primary school friends are going private for secondary but we just can't afford this (we have two DD).

I feel like I've failed her. We should have moved house but we bought here before she was born and it seemed so far off. I don't know what to do. All other secondaries close by are over subscribed and we're well out of catchment.

You don’t tell her of your thoughts, and send her off with confidence.

If you’ve already made the secondary application, which I assume you have if she’s going next September, you speak of it as positively as you can. I’m sure there will be someone she knows going to the school.

If she’s very academic, she will be in like minded groups most probably. Above all, don’t show her your concern.

Well you could home school?

Or some schools give priority to children of staff so go get yourself a job at the school you like if this is one of their criteria.

Other that that you can appeal the school. I teach at a very over subscribed school and we have year groups that are over on numbers due to appeals.

I went to my local comp which had poor results but came out with straight A grades so if she is bright she will do well.

What's the school's Progress 8 score?

What does tbe latest Ofsted report say?

I'm wondering what the intake of the school is like.

Are scholarships an option?
And you may get a different school, and if you don't you can go on wait list for your preferred school.