Senior school - options if you’re not well off

[Whattodoaboutschool]

Hello I’ve name changed for this because I know there are people on here who know me and it’s quite outing.

Anyway DD is year 5. She’s a bright child, engaged and happy, but whilst she excels at some things (art and sport and creative writing) she really really struggles with things like maths.

There are 3 potential state high schools near us. Two are poor and I am even more worried that she may be in the lower sets for some subjects where I’m aware that pupil behaviour is extremely poor. The one I would consider is over subscribed and out of catchment and I think it’s unlikely we get a place (although I will try).

I had always intended to try and coach her thought the 11 + but it’s been clear for a while that even if we were do that, the grammar school wouldn’t be the right fit. And I want her to have a positive school experience as much as possible.

in a perfect world I’d send her to a lovely independent near by but I can’t afford it atm. We can’t move house for a while either unfortunately.

There is an Avanti school, which I don’t know much about.

Has anyone any suggestions for options I haven’t thought about?

thank you

In my experience of teaching (12 years), there are far far more disruptive boys than girls. I can think of 2 or 3 girls who have been seriously disruptive in my whole career, where as most classes at my old school had 2-3 disruptive boys if not more!

@modgepodge well your experience and my son’s are very different! We had a whole year of maths being disrupted by 3 girls which was frequently discussed with the class teacher. Now 2 have left, the classes are much more settled.

You just move.

Even if it means sacrifices like fewer rooms, no garden etc.

I’m sorry your son experienced that, disruptive behaviour is annoying whoever is doing it. Exclusion data nationally shows that 4x more boys than girls are permanently excluded, which is in line with my own experience both as a pupil and a teacher.

@modgepodge i know, I’m vice chair! But my point is it’s unfair to label all lower set boys as disruptive, they really aren’t.

If your daughter excels in certain things, and you are happy for her to travel a fair distance to school, it's worth looking to see if there are commutable schools near you that offer aptitude places that sit outside the normal admissions criteria.

We live rurally and our nearest secondary is dire and still 45 minutes away, so DD goes to a comprehensive in London on a music place.

Does the independent school offer scholarships? The one wheee I work offer scholarships for sport and for art, which give you a decent percentage off, and can be combined with bursaries.