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Original poster

Which school to choose for my daughter!

32 replies

naomienira · 14/05/2023 18:56

Hello,

I saw similar treads in here and I wanted to get your opinions…

DD is 7 years old who is self-motivated and well above average in all subjects. She loves learning, reading, music, sport, art. Her reports are amazing and she is always been top of her class. She never had an tutor and never practised for 7+ exams and she had offers from each school.

School 1: Its my DDs current school. My DD2 is also in this school. It is a girls only GDST school, walking distance to our house just 1 bus stop. DD loves her school and her friends, also her teachers.

School 2: JAGS about 1 hour commute with school bus. I need to drive DD to the bus stop (15mins) than she needs to take school bus around 7:25. School facilities are amazing and it is very academic school. If she start there we would like her to stay for seniors as well. I would love my daughter to attend to this school as my daughter is also academic focused but commute makes me to think twice.

School 3: Eltham College- it is 20 mins drive away but DD needs to use school bus as I have another DD. But bus stop that she needs to go for the school bus is just 5 mins walk away and she needs to be at the bus stop around 7:45. Academically this school is better than our GDST school, also it is bigger school with better facilities. But it was boys only school till 2020 so not sure if ratio of girls/boys.. Also we are not Christian and Good School Guide state that Eltham College is a Christian school and they teach in Christian environment.

Meanwhile we have £6 discount in her current GDST school because I work in the GDST school as well.

OP posts:
Temporaryanonymity · 14/05/2023 19:03

Seriously, go for the easiest option.

Original poster
naomienira · 14/05/2023 19:34

@Temporaryanonymity than we will stay in our lovely GDST ☺️

OP posts:
gabster33 · 14/05/2023 23:28

For primary stay at the closest and easiest - she will do well. Move to jags for secondary - she will get in then too.

Original poster
naomienira · 14/05/2023 23:55

@gabster33 thanks. do you know the schools?

OP posts:
LIZS · 15/05/2023 07:56

Did you ask this before? At 7 she does not need an hour's commute and would be very happy to stay locally where she is with her sister. If you are holding places are you now liable for Autumn term fees at each? Reconsider her school for 11+

TheresaBackinbud · 15/05/2023 08:00

£6 discount doesn’t sound very much, even if it’s per every day. I’d factor that bit out if I were you.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/05/2023 08:02

Not sure why you’re even considering it! Keep her where she is.
guessing her school is either blackheath high or Sydenham high?

TheresaBackinbud · 15/05/2023 08:03

Also, is this a phishing thread to gain insight into the other schools? If your daughter loves her school, loves her friends and loves her teachers, what possible motive would you have to wrench her away from that and dump her into an unknown quantity where her daily travel is made much more difficult!

AssertiveGertrude · 15/05/2023 08:04

She sounds lovely and she’s going to do well anywhere op

for now I would stick with your current school - she’s young and the travel and new environment might be tiring / daunting

Passerillage · 15/05/2023 08:07

Absolutely stay with GDST. Everything is perfectly aligned there and I assume you mean a 6k discount.

As a matter of interest, how is the discount calculated? How many hours a week do you need to work with them to get the 30% reduction?

PuttingDownRoots · 15/05/2023 08:07

School 2... far too young for that commute.

Look again at 11+. Her current school has got her this far remember.

Temporaryname158 · 15/05/2023 08:12

Keep her where she is. She’s happy and happy children learn well

CatsOnTheChair · 15/05/2023 08:43

Absolutely take option 2 off the table. That's a crazy commute when you have valid options closer.

1 or 3. You seem to have nothing negative to say about the current school, and mixed reviews about option 3.
Why are you looking into moving her? She's happy. Leave her be at a school you and her are comfortable with that happens to be the most convenient.

Hellocatshome · 15/05/2023 08:52

Your daughter is in a school in which she is happy and thriving she doesnt have to move school for any reason such as house move etc so why are you even thinking about this?

MomFromSE · 15/05/2023 09:05

You should keep her where she is. If she passed the 7+ for JAGs with no tutoring there is unlikely to be any academic value add between your options. Also, commute at this age make a huge difference to their overall experience. The fact that you get a sizeable discount and her sister is there as well makes it really a no-brainer!

CurlewKate · 15/05/2023 09:15

ALWAYS go for the shortest journey. No contest.

Beachhutnut · 15/05/2023 09:37

School 1 hands down. She may be academic but she's also 7. By the time she's 9 others will have caught up and she may well be just average. Don't underestimate the value of having local friends who live walking distance from the school. This will benefit her much more in the long run. If she's still academic by the time you're ready for high school consider a commute then. For now let her be a kid.

Lcb123 · 15/05/2023 09:48

I can't see any reason you'd disrupt and move her. So beneficial to be able to walk and have local friends, and be part of the local community.

MomFromSE · 15/05/2023 11:43

I don't agree that she may turn out to be average. There are definitely late bloomers and variability in ability over time but a child who is doing really well at 7 is very likely to continue to do well academically.

However, just because JAGS has a more academic cohort doesn't mean her current school isn't stretching her to her full ability. She is doing well and happy

TheresaBackinbud · 15/05/2023 22:44

Are you coming back to comment OP 🤔

Original poster
naomienira · 15/05/2023 23:42

@TheresaBackinbud hello:) trust me its a real dilemma:) x

OP posts:
TJsAunt · 16/05/2023 18:20

You’ve asked this before!

you know you will now have to pay Autumn term fees at all 3 schools don’t you?

all good schools. You just keep asking and keep deciding to stay at school 1 and then asking again

TheresaBackinbud · 17/05/2023 06:58

Why would OP have to pay Autumn fees for three schools? Has she accepted places for two other schools as well as remaining at current school? Why would anyone do that?

TJsAunt · 17/05/2023 07:40

Offers were made in Jan/Feb. If she still has 3 options open then yes, she has accepted all 3.

no idea why anyone would do that.

TheresaBackinbud · 17/05/2023 08:15

Or it may be that she hasn’t declined the offers yet, which is it the same as accepting an offer. However, if OP jumps ship in September then yea, she will forfeit a term’s fees for the current school.

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