Which school would you choose?

[Unsureschool]

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

I guess it depends if you see school 4 as a fantastic opportunity which she will be denied if she doesn't go there. It sounded like you weren't that sure that school 4 was a fantastic opportunity! Unless it's a specialist music school, I fail to see how it's a better opportunity for a musical child. It may even be better suited to the bright child. I also fail to see how realistically you have the money to invest in both children equally.

I think info on a younger sibling would have been crucial in your OP, but perhaps we have different values.

No I think you're right, I don't have a good answer, hence asking on here. I appreciate your ( and everyone's) feedback

This is the precise dilemma I have. It wouldn’t surprise me if we were from the same area.

Absolutely not School 4, not if you can't comfortably send BOTH children there potentially. What if DD goes and then it becomes obvious that it's also the best school for DS? She leaves for the local comp and he goes instead? She has to leave for the local comp and he joins her there? She stays at School 4 and, despite it being the best choice for him, he doesn't get to go because you are already maxed out paying for her?

I wouldn't stress too much yet. Keep an eye on the new school that's opening, it sounds promising but you never know. Sounds like it will be open for a year before you have to make a decision?

And as DD gets slightly older, she may have a strong opinion on where she wants to go. Not that she should get 100% of the say in it, not at age 10. But you'll definitely want to take her preferences into account.

My DD doesn't want to go to high school at all but the one we've chosen has been because - while having an excellent reputation - her best friend will also be going there. For her that is a MASSIVE deal that will make the transition much easier.

Is school 4 known for its amazing music provision? I ask because that would affect my answer. Our local public school specialises in arts/music, so it would be the obvious choice for someone with musical talents. If not, I wouldn’t necessarily chose option 4 - given that you wouldn’t be able to send both children there. I also agree with others that music scholarships are minimal in terms of reduced fees. You tend to get free music lessons etc

So difficult to advise between the other 3 without knowing more about the schools, but I’d be tempted by school 2 - it’s close and has new facilities. State schools finish earlier in the afternoon than private schools, so you’d have time and money to pay for lots of music lessons after school if they weren’t available during the school day.

I think it would be very unfair to send child 1 to school 4 if you know you couldn’t afford it for the younger sibling. You’re unlikely to get a very percentage scholarship unless you also get a bursary.

I’d personally want to avoid school 1 if possible from what you’ve said.

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.

If she’s going to go in for a music scholarship, please don’t just go in for one school, enter her for a few. Try some coed weekly boarding schools as well as the nearish one, ideally some which also offer academic scholarships.

Don’t choose a secondary school for it’s A level results as they might want to go somewhere totally different for 6th form. Look at the provision from years 7-11.

That's a good point re A levels

I think you're all right re school 4, would need to be able to offer it to both, so will only consider if we can afford it

School 4

Bonkers to factor in 6th form age 11 I have a year 11 and it’s all change at 6th form state to private private to state 6th form colleges etc

I guess the A level thing was to show there are some upsides to school 1, it's not totally drossy!

I agree with the A levels thing. I'd stick to looking at the GCSE results.