HELP!! DONT KNOW WHICH SCHOOL TO CHOOSE

[nims1976]

helppp!!!
my daughter has been offered a top grammar school i think its either 3rd or 4th in the country. the name of the school is Newstead Wood. on the other hand she has also been offered a full fees paid scholarship place at a mid private school. the name of the school is Blackheath High
i have 2 days to make up my mind.
although the GS is high up on the league table the private one is small and has more to offer.
my question is what do i go for? education side of things or what the school has to offer?

Presumably she has visited both - what is her opinion? What about travelling to school - does either involve a long journey? What about extra-curricular activities - which school would offer what interests her? Can you afford the extras at the private school? Don't be swayed by the 3rd or 4th in the country thing - indicates good exam results but not much else. Your daughter may be highly academic but that school may not be the happier environment. What were your own gut feelings?

I had a similar dilemma with my DS. We went for the private, our reasons for this; the breadth of learning (more languages, classics etc) which stretches the more academic pupils, the extra curricular activities on offer, smaller class sizes, and in our case the private is nearer to us, but most of all DS loved this school and the gut feeling we got when we spoke to staff did it for me. Sometimes Grammar schools can be academic hot houses and a bright pupil may need more depth to their learning IMO. Good luck with your decision its not easy. :)

thank you both for your advice. we have visited both and felt at home with the private. the main problem now is my DS dream is to go to oxbridge and do medicine. my gut feeling tells me that she will be happier at the private school and then on the other hand something is telling me GS is going to help her with the high results required by oxbridge.
i am feeling sick in a situation where i should be over the moon

forgot to say- GS involves a bus, train and 15 mins walk. private is one bus straight there and back

It's not necessarily a once and for all decision -if you opt for Blackheath High now, she could always think about transferring to somwhere else more academic (JAGS, Eltham College) for the 6th form.

I have recently had to make a similar decision, dd has chosen less academic school, as the extra curricular appealed to her more and she felt much more comfortable there. A happy child will achieve better imo. Good luck with your choice.

I know a girl well who went to NS, got 3 As at A Level, and is v bright as you would imagine. But she has no self-confidence, stuffed up her Oxbridge interview and wasn't offered place. Really didn't feel like the school had prepared her at all. I wouldn't hesitate to go the private route if I were you.

Your daughter will probably do well wherever she goes. Go with the school that "feels" right to you and your dd. She is going to spend quite a bit of time there so it has to be right. Don't be swayed by published exam results & ofsted etc, sounds like your dd is bright & self motivated. Gut instinct counts for a lot.

No question that Blackheath High is the right choice particularly as maintained schools are facing budget cuts and so you can expect larger classes and less on offer in the future. My local GS in Kent is already cutting staff, subjects, activities and pushing up class sizes across the school. Couple that with an easier journey and it's a no brained in my view.

thank you all for helping me to make my mind up. i have chosen blackheath high. best wishes to you all xxx

Waow too old tread! I wonder if OP thinks they did the right choice (as we are in similar situation)