Can you help us decide between two Outstanding local schools

[jewelinthecrown14]

Dear Fellow Mumsnetters,

This is my first posting. Please can you help chose between the two excellent choices for our confident, bright and chatty little boy (only child):

Thank you reading this long post, but felt right to share as much information as we can.

School A:
Pros

1. Outstanding private co-ed from 4 to 11
2. 20 pupil intake, nurturing and almost bespoke education
3. Under 10 min walk from home
4. Sends to top preps at 11+, but welcomes a full range of abilities

Cons

1. Very limited outside space
2. Cost
3. Girl top heavy in latter years

Other points

1. He "won" a place in assessment (300+ applicants for 20 seats)
2. Our target schools are v. selective preps at 11+ (or possibly even 8+)

School B:
Pros

1. Outstanding CoFE primary, top 3 in an affluent London borough
2. Free
3. 30 pupil intake, but regarded as a small village school (in London)
4. About a 10 min walk from home
5. Lovely open facilities
6. Sends 30% to 50% to independent preps at 11
7. Strong music, french and good extracurriculars for a state school

Cons

1. Does not appear to send to very selective preps at 11, mainly Tier 2/3
2. Understandably, only does "lip service" to the 11+
3. Prior parents said their artistic child was not stretched (etc etc)

Other points

1. We got the place in the non-Faith / Open category
2. Education no.1 priority for us, vs holidays, large house etc
3. We are not native British, but have been in the local area for 20+ years

Mummytime - yes London does have a transient population and the schools have that challenge of dealing with a high turnover of students who can't help but move but in my view that does not mean you should make it worse by choosing state when ypu know you want a prep at 7 or 8.

Some state primary schools local to me lose a huge proportion of students to preps. Those families take a much wanted school place that a poorer family would treasure for 7 years, use the schools resources to set up Torquil for his prep, then leave the school to cope with a change in year 3 or 4 where a new student will have to be integrated into the class and got up to speed in a couple of years before SATS. The remaining students lose a friend and have attention diverted from them as new students are integrated. It's selfish behaviour of middle class probers who use their house buying power to displace proper kids from great state primaries then leave those primaries to cope with an even higher turnover than necessary.

Those families take a much wanted school place that a poorer family would treasure for 7 years I can see what you mean Undercooked.

Torquil's parents pay tax like anyone else. If they get a place at an outstanding state school then they have every right to use it. Maybe Torquil leaving in year 3 will free up a place for another child moving into the area. It might mean that Jade's social worker has less of a fight to get Jade into the best school in th area. (Yes, a class can be 31 in juniors but the head of the outstanding school is a formidable type and really wants to avoid going over 30. The rights of LAC children mean little.)

Maybe Torquil's classmates' parents would rather keep Torquil, but Jade can have Torquil's place.

School B on the basis of space. Children need space!!!

You can move him later if he outgrows the school and you can top up with tutors but you can't create additional space at school A!!!

B without a doubt. It is a delight when they come out of the local comp 14 years later with better grades than their Eton chums and you have that extra £250,000 or so in the bank.

My local boys very high achieving private boys school (out of London, intakes at 11 and 13), actually has been known to favour boys from one local State school over its own foundation Prep. The boys are just as bright but haven't been tutored to the test, and are seen as more "creative".

However if you have a specific school or schools in mind then you should probably phone and talk to the head.

If it was me id always choose school B. But if you equally like both or slightly prefer A then please go for it as you will be freeing up a place for another child at B who cannot afford to pay for A.

A prep school blazer does not trump a good candidate from a state school. My DD was offered places at two good girls' boarding schools and was asked to sit the scholarship exams for one on the basis of her performance at their pre selection day. She turned up in her state school sweatshirt. She could, however, speak well, show enthusiasm, participate fully in the activities they put on ( including being the only girl they had ever seen who chose to swim the length of the pool doing the butterfly stroke!) and generally "sell" herself as a good candidate.

Where we live, lots of schools are infant only and children have to leave anyway. I am also not aware of any boys senior boarding schools starting at 11. Day schools do. Boarding prep departments for boys are from 8-13 with CE at 13.

Yep. Private schools love the right children from state schools. Ticks lots of boxes.............

We started DD in a school A (private) and had to move her unexpectedly mid year into a school B (outstanding state). We MUCH prefer B! I honestly believe that her education is similar if not better. The school is more accountable and they really do the best for each child. School A was lovely (and the uniform much nicer!) but if you want to prep for 11+ it's easily done with a tutor. Don't get sucked in by private is best.

We have chosen school B, after speaking to parents, friends & family and your input. We are feeling very good about our decision. We cannot wait for the ride ahead to start! Good luck to your kids and thank you.

Hooray .... good luck and spent the money on fun!