Two school choices. Do we play safe or not?

[Helenagrace]

DD is in Y5 and recently has been struggling with maths results due to not writing down her working out, not checking her work and panicking when questions aren't in a familiar format. She is top set maths in a moderately selective independent girls school.

We are relocating over the Summer and now have two offers for DD.

Offer one is from a non or barely selective girls school. They have assured us that DD will be able proceed to their high school.

Offer two is from a highly selective co-ed grammar. They have concerns about her maths but feel that with additional work over the Summer she could pass their entrance exam. If she doesn't though she will not get a place in their senior school.

Offer two school is more highly regarded and
has better A level results.

I am torn between the safe option (offer one) where she will only have to cope with the move and not mountains of extra maths and the high risk alternative of trying the highly academic route and risking failure.

Does anyone have any wisdom?

Has she been with you to visit these schools? Has she expressed a preference? And what sort of 'feel' do you have about these two schools?

I would be very concerned about sending my DCs anywhere that they needed to "cram" for.

What are the results at GCSE like for the two schools?

Sounds like the choice in our local city.... It really depends on the child. I have my dd1 in the semi-selective girls school, which is smaller and kinder than the big co-ed very selective one. It suits her much better. However, my other children are made of sterner stuff so are at the pushier school, which gives them more opportunities, but is much tougher... So it has to be down to each child I'm afraid.

I ask about GCSEs, as all schools are effectively selective for A levels, in that the subjects you can choose are dependent on GCSE results in one or more subjects.

I would choose school 1 as well. Although less selective than current school sounds as if she is more used to all-girls environment and switching to co-ed may be a culture shock.
Don't just look at the percentages for GCSE and A level passes but look at the range and type of subjects on offer as these may be different at each school.

I'd go for the option 1. My dss crammed for his grammar-school place, and is now really struggling. In a way it has been a good option - he is certainly getting a good education - but it's been a tough couple of years.