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Original poster

Which school would you choose?

38 replies

Unsureschool · 14/10/2021 16:27

Hi, couple of years off but just wondering if anyone could give me any advice on secondary school for DD9 - for context she is bright, sporty but exceptional at music, no extra curricular at current school but good local provision.

School 1- 15 minute walk, rough catchment area, v run down,narrow curriculum, good A level results and destination, caring school.

School 2. 15 minute walk, good catchment area, brand new so excellent facilities but completely unknown in terms of results

School 3. 2 miles away so cycle, bus, lift. Naicer catchment, good academics, broader curriculum more facilities than school 1 but bad rep for bullying.

School 4 - 15 miles away so would be a bus job. Public school, facilities out of this world, likely to get music scholarship but could just about afford it if not.

Any opinions gratefully received as all my friends irl have kids similar age or younger!

I think school 1 is sensible but I feel a bit mean when there are better options, I went to a run down school where lessons were ruined rough boys and hated it.

Thanks

OP posts:
DressedUpAtAnIvy · 14/10/2021 16:31

School 2 unless she gets a scholarship to school 4. If you can afford school fees you can afford tutoring if she goes to a state school.
Don’t send her to the rough one or the bullying one.

SouthLondonMommy · 14/10/2021 16:37

School 4 or school 1. If the academics at school 1are good and the school is caring she should do just fine in the state option.

School 3 would be a hard no.

School 2 could be a good choice if you felt the school ethos was good like school 1. I wouldn't pick it just because its new and posh as you can see from school 3 that doesn't guarantee a good experience.

PennyWus · 14/10/2021 16:42

School 4 if you can get a scholarship and DD seems interested. Then school 2 as new facilities would be good then school1 and last school 3, unless there is clear evidence of strong leadership on solving the bullying

MerryMarigold · 14/10/2021 16:45

Do you have a choice in reality? Our local school is rough but outstanding and very hard to get into (only the closest to the school). Another, a bit further away, is larger and easier to get into. Personally I'd let her choose and I think friendships are (and should be) a factor.

Original poster
Unsureschool · 14/10/2021 16:50

Thanks all, really helpful.

I think we do have a choice, local kids currently go to a mix of 1 and 3, 3 might be harder to get into as 2 opens. She will have good friends at all 3 I think.

Will keep a close eye on school 2 and put her in for scholarship at 4 in case it comes off and she's keen. Otherwise 1 plus lots of extra curricular stuff maybe?

OP posts:
WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor · 14/10/2021 16:51

School 4

user1493494961 · 14/10/2021 17:15

School 4 first and then school 2.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/10/2021 17:18

How old is School 2? Is it filling up year by year?

Original poster
Unsureschool · 14/10/2021 17:22

Opening next year

OP posts:
SleepQuest33 · 14/10/2021 17:23

School 4 but only if on scholarship otherwise will be very limiting for your family if you’ll be counting the pennies.
Otherwise school 2 keeping an eye on academics.

Cantstopthewaves · 14/10/2021 17:23

I'd keep an eye on school 2.
Looking towards school 2 or 4.

SinoohXaenaHide · 14/10/2021 17:29

I would be trying for school 4 but keeping school 2 as a backup option if that doesn't work out.

Independent school scholarships tend to be limited to 10% off fees as they are more about the honour than the money. However, whether or not a scholarship is offered you can ask to be considered for a bursary which is means tested and its not at all unusual to receive both. Even if you could theoretically just about afford the fees through scrimping and saving that could put you in a position to get another 5-10% off.

MerryMarigold · 14/10/2021 18:46

I wouldn't go 15 miles but it depends where you are. 15 miles where I live could take 1.5 hours!

Original poster
Unsureschool · 14/10/2021 18:57

Not much traffic so 30 minutes drive, probably longer on bus but doable, it's a common commute

OP posts:
Learningtobeafeministagain · 14/10/2021 19:01

School 4

manywildhorses · 14/10/2021 19:18

School 4

campion · 14/10/2021 20:23

School 4 but music scholarships probably won't be a big % of fees - and can be very competitive.
She won't be the only one doing a long'ish journey.

FindingMeno · 14/10/2021 20:26

The bullying school would be out of the question.

MerryMarigold · 14/10/2021 20:52

It's your DD an only child? I wouldn't send one to private school if I couldn't afford for other children.

Original poster
Unsureschool · 15/10/2021 09:38

No there's a younger sibling who is v bright but no apparent extra talents .Would be a real stretch to send them both independently

OP posts:
languagelover96 · 15/10/2021 10:15

School no 4 or school no 1. School no 3 does not sound like a good school and school no 2 can be a back up option only.

EllieNBeeb · 15/10/2021 11:04

School 1 would actually probably be my last choice, wouldn't want to limit my kid to a narrow curriculum, and it's in the roughest area from the sounds of things. Not really concerned about a level results, a lot of schools boost those by narrow teaching to the test and repeat assessment, which I feel is a waste of time and not the point of education.

MoreAloneTime · 15/10/2021 11:37

It sounds like you've got time to wait and see about school 2. You might not have results but you'd at least have opinions of some parents to consider.

MerryMarigold · 15/10/2021 13:03

@Unsureschool

No there's a younger sibling who is v bright but no apparent extra talents .Would be a real stretch to send them both independently
To be honest that would decide it for me. Very unfair to send one who is more 'talented'. We're talking thousands and thousands of pounds of 'investment' into one child and not the other (even with a scholarship unless it's a full one). How would you feel if you were the second child? How would it affect the family? How would it affect their relationship? To me, those things are way more important than 'better facilities' and smaller classes.
Original poster
Unsureschool · 15/10/2021 14:58

Totally agree, although it's also unfair to stop one taking a fantastic opportunity because the other doesn't share those talents. We would have to make the same investment for both children but it might be on different things

OP posts: