WWYD? Secondary school choices

[gaslamp]

First time poster, long time lurker!

Pondering on this at the moment (actually going round in circles endlessly) and interested in views. Apologies if this ends up being a state vs private debate, not intended to be one.

DD is academically bright and - currently - motivated. Predicted level 6s. Sporty, good all rounder but probably stronger on maths than English. Her academic intelligence has at times outweighed her emotional intelligence by some way. Can be a bit of a perfectionist, not always in a good way. Loves to be stretched and challenged and current school has done this whilst providing great pastoral care when she has needed it.

We will (probably) have the choice of sending our DD (currently in state co-ed primary) to

• 'Good' state co-ed comprehensive (not offered yet but probably 90% chance will get in on distance, fair number of DD's friends going on sibling basis, good reputation locally, sports is meant to be good but tbh it is prob better for boys than girls, non-selective but gets good results I think for a non-selective comp - difficult to tell really)

• Scholarship offer at good girls independent school (train or bus journey but relatively short, good pastoral care, some girls from her school going, school in 25-50 place in league tables depending on year / tables, all the sports she likes are played, popular in our area and has a good reputation and we know girls who've been there recently and they / parents rave about it, feels 'affordable' with scholarship, intake is probably more mixed than the comp which has small catchment in v middle class area)

• Offer at top 10 girls school (prob best girls school in the area, consistently in top ten schools league tables without fail, stellar results, great facilities etc - but fees that go with it (will stretch us), further away - can go on train or school coach but journey is longer therefore, don't think anyone else she knows will go and think their prep school intake is quite high, has a reputation for being pressured amongst those who don't go there but from those who do they say it is competitive but in a good way...has a nice feel when you go round it, but she would def be one of lots of bright girls)

Everyone says she will do well wherever she goes - but I'm not so sure. We are very lucky to have this choice (assuming we get an offer from state comp) and we liked all of the schools when we visited but they are all quite different and have different pros and cons.

WWYD? I normally make quick decisions on gut instinct but really struggling as this feels such a big decision.

Not option 3 certainly.
Option 1 would be my choice.
But option 2 would be hard to turn down.

Thanks all. So the comp sets in Maths from yr 7, and science and MFL from yr 8. Nothing else set at the moment. I've booked tours at all the schools now. Leaning towards option 2 at the moment.

I have wondered why the comprehensive doesn't set across English, humanities etc as well - but suspect they have a reason why they don't (anyone have any ideas as to the possible rationale for this?)

I think option 2. First because, reading between the lines, it is where you feel she would be happiest, although you are trying to convince yourself to go for the comp

Second because if she is maths and sciencey, girls do better in these subjects in single sex rather than co-ed.

This is assuming that financially you can comfortably manage option 2. If not you are lucky to have such a good alternative as option 1, and go for it. She will do well I am sure.

Option 3 sounds like it would be a big mistake IMO.

Ps I think not being set in English in a large comprehensive for a clever pupil must be excruciating. Not really fair on those of higher ability or lower ability actually. No doubt there is some justification but I doubt it is a very good one!

let her go to the top 10 school....they obviously think she will thrive there. Don't let her miss this great opportunity if you can afford it.

I have had discussions with a number of teachers (primary and secondary) about the merits of setting. In the context of a primary school with two classes per year group which used to set in maths and literacy but then stopped, the teacher told me she thought that she thought setting could disadvantage those children who were "middle ability". I have heard secondary school teachers argue that mixed ability teaching can help those who would otherwise be in the lower sets. I have yet to hear any teacher argue that mixed ability teaching positively benefits the most academically able.

I agree with celestialsquirrels that no setting in English in a comprehensive school would ring major warning bells for me. At the school I attended we were set for English from Year 9. I was put in top set, and I think it is no coincidence that it was in Year 9 that I started to enjoy English as a subject when I hadn't before.

The other thing it's important to remember is that a school can alter its setting policy from one year to the next. A new headteacher/ a new head of year or simply a change in policy from existing staff can result in a school going from setting to not setting in a subject.

Lots of schools set in English in Year 9 and it works really well. My school set from year 7 and by year 9 the sets are completely different as primary's literacy is very different from English.
I would go for option one, as a pastoral lead in a school an emotionally immature person will receive more care there than in private .... (Have experience at both). An all girls school may really not suit your daughter if she struggles emotionally as all girls together is a tough environment for some.

Just to give another "take" on this OP, I read out the post to my own Year 7 DD (without telling her which option I thought) and asked her which school she would choose for your DD. My own DD said that she quite identified with the description of your DD! She went on to say that she would choose Option 2 (both if choosing for your DD and if she were choosing for herself from the same list of options). She singled out the scholarship as being of particular importance ("The school must really want her!") and went on to say that she thought not choosing Option 2 would be passing up on a great opportunity. My own DD attends a school which almost exactly matches your description of Option 1 and is happy there!

Thanks to all who contributed on this thread - we have accepted the offer from the second option in the end (scholarship offer). Having visited all the schools again, we felt option 2 suited her best and she was noticeably more enthusiastic and relaxed there than when visiting the other two. Decision made