in-year offer from a school and visitting the school prior to accepting the place

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DD in year 2 offered a place in a school ( school B) which has lower results than the current school ( School A). The B school offers more extra curricular sports than school A and also the logistic ( getting to school B) would be slightly better. School B 82% in SATS 2014 , 30 % EAL, 7 % on free meals, compared to school A 12 (92% SATS 2014) 12% EAL, 6.5 % free meals), the results. DD feels OK transferring to school B because there are more sports available. BUT I feel so bad that the school B has lower academic results and that 1/3 of the class in school B are EAL. What would you do? I feel the School B is more accessible logistically and I think we would be able to do more things after school compare to the current situation when the commute is long and she is tired after getting home because of commute etc, I also feel School B has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere. Is it reasonable for me 1) to ask that DD come to school for 1 day as a "visit" before we resign from her school A? 2) ask the school B to meet the head - just to say hello and see how they would support someone who starts the school in mid-year...

I think that when you take into consideration that school B has a substantially larger number of EAL than school A their results make them as good academically as school A so I wouldn't worry about the school being less academic.

I would definitely go and have a look around school B but it sounds as if moving to school B would be better for all of you ( because of the commute and the extra sports activities ). I wouldn't worry at all about the results being slightly lower than the school she's in currently.

Thank you. what about the Q to the HT about how they support more able pupils? my DD is higher than average in her present class ( that what the teacher said...)

82% is hardly a bad statistic! Remember these statistics represent the intake as much as anything.

The issue is what the school can do for children who are "like" your DC. Whilst it's worth looking at the school, I really wouldn't be fretting over that statistic when it sounds like it's better in other areas!

When you say your DD is "higher than average" do you mean total genius or at the higher end of "normal"? I'd certainly ask about how they differentiate and how more able children are extended.

sorry - she is higher end of normal ( not genius). Tee school said it is not a common practice to meet the head...if I get my kid into school then I can book a drop in session...I liked this approach: "The issue is what the school can do for children who are "like" your DC"...there are sport clubs that my kid want to do, the school is within the community in terms of seeing the children in the park, in the church etc