Which school we should go for - please share uour ideas!

[Clairyann]

Hello,

My niece had an 2 offers from 2 independent schools. She is in year 4 currently. We really don’t know which one we should choose. We visited both but still couldn’t decide:

School 1:
Its a girl only school (single sex) there is directly train also a bus to school. By train it takes 5 mins, by bus 20 mins. 16 students in each classroom and there are 2 forms in each years. Facilities ok (much better than local state schools) but resources are grade. School building is more modern, airy and new. Fees are cheaper than school 2 and there is no need to travel by school bus or pay school bus fee.

School 2:
Its coed school. My niece needs to travel to school by school bus as there are no transport links. She needs to get school bus around 7:45 and it costs about £2500 per year. It is christian school (and we are not christian). Facilities and clubs are better than School 1 and it is larger school. 21-22 students in each classrooms and 3 or 4 forms in each years. GCSE and A level grades are better about (%5) than School 1. School fees are a bit more expensive than SChool 1 (around 3500 per year)

My niece going to travel to the school by car till secondary but we wanted to give options for transport as she is not planing move other school in secondary - schools are both till 18 years old.

Which school sounds better choice?

School 1 sounds better to me. You can get much more homework done without the travel. Smaller classes. No religion. Which does she prefer?

as there are no transport links. this would decide it for me. I'd choose school 1.

Does school 1 get bigger for secondary? Does school 2 offer enough more for the increased cost?

Both sound a bit small for Secondary if it doesn't increase... gcse options etc.

School 1 is too small. Children need to find their group and with such a small cohort I would worry.

Hi, above we mentioned junior schools class size.

In secondary:
school 1 - has 4 classes in secondary and there are about 19-20 students in each classroom.

school 2 - 6 classes 21-22 students in each classroom.

@BendingSpoons larger sport field and swimming pool.

school 1 - but why are you choosing for your niece?

The main difference for me is single sex vs co ed.

@aslkde we dont think she will have a friendship issue in school 1 as there will be about 16 girls in her classroom. And School admission team said all girls (in 2 groups) spends time together in playground, sport field etc so they all girls know each other. They even mentioned that they mix the students classrooms each year. When we visited school all girls seemed happy with this. My niece had taster day and all girls was so friendly and welcoming

@Nimbostratus100 my sister is next to me - she doesn’t have a Mumsnet account:)

@minipie yes true - which one would you pick for a girl?

I’d choose School 1

smaller classes
easier transport
no religion

I honestly don’t know! I have a girl myself and will need to decide soon. But am edging towards single sex with all the depressing porn/Andrew Tate influenced culture among some teen boys and consequent expectations on girls

Meanwhile School 1 is mix—ability school. because main entry point is nursery or reception however School 2 has year 3 (7+) entry point. So school 2 is more selective - its easier for them to pick academic/doable in age 7.
In these schools about 75-80% current junior students moves to senior without needing to pass 11+ exam.
In this case do you think thats the reason for School 2 GCSE and A level results are better?

School 1. We’re not Christians and at a Christian school and it is a bit uncomfortably weird sometimes, bit like being in a room where everyone else still believes in Santa.

School 1, she can always move to co-Ed at 16

If 2nd school is selective but only getting 5% better results, if I have remembered correctly from earlier, I don't think that's good enough or big enough a difference for extra fee cost.

@ZeldaB true, school 2 said they need to go chirch twice in a week. And school is designed for Christian environment

@minipie its really hard to find right school for the girls:/

School 1 for these reasons. I’m hoping to go single-sex for my DD - life as a teen is hard enough without all that crap as well

Neither.
School 1 is too small, and I don't like the religious and travelling aspects for School 2.

If I had to choose it would be school 1. Might you be better leaving her wherever she is now, and looking for a move in Year 7?

@redskylight thanks for sharing your idea - may I learn why you think its disadvantage to be in smaller school?

Small schools generally have limited opportunities for friendships and opportunities. Partly due to money available and partly due to numbers. Things like music and sport will be restricted (can you produce a competitive sports team with a small number in the year group). They are unlikely to offer a full range of subjects at GCSE. Friendships are ok if you gel with someone, but with a small number of others there's less chance you will - and if you fall out with your existing friendship group, you have nowhere to hide.

If you're looking for a school that will see her through to at least GCSE, make sure you're not picking one based on her currently being 8 or 9, but think about what will suit her when she is 15 or 16 as well.

@redskylight thank you