What's more important, social or academic?
See we have the choice of two schools. Both very bad.
School 'A' is our catchment school. It has a bad name but mainly because it is in the middle of a really bad council estate.
School 'B' is further away but would be an easy alternative as it too is a crap school so always has places.
Here are the pros and cons:
School A -
Pro - Slightly better exam results than school B with 21% gaining 5 or more GCSEs (I know its still a terrible result).
Pro - Nearby so easy for DS to get to.
Pro - Good range of subjects in year 9 including diplomas in ICT, Media and Business Studies
Cons - The kids that go there - some from down our street that take the mick out of DS and call him gay etc now so I'm in no doubt that would start on him if he went there. Especially as they will have been there a year when he starts.
Cons - Known for bullying and lack of handling
Cons - has its own police unit onsite (!!)
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School B
Pro - Further away so away from the local kids
pro - Has a slightly better reputation
Pro - Safer area for DS to walk to and from
Pro - Has a rep for being tough on bullying
Cons - Even worse results than school A with only 18% gaining 5 GCSEs
Cons - Doesn't have the diplomas etc that school A does
Cons - Has dificulty attracting and keeping teachers.
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So, if you had to choose - which one would you go for?
I'm thinking School A would be better academically but School B would be easier for him to 'fit in'.