Which school would you pick for year 3?

[Shinestar83]

Hi everyone,
My older daughter done her 11+ this year and she will go to one of the GDST girls only school- which was her first choice so we are really happy for her. But I also have 6 years old daughter in year 2 right now, which done 7+ this year. She is so academic and well above average child. Her teacher said in last parents evening that she is so talented and gifted. She done 4 7+ exams and passed all of them. I would like to ask you to give me a idea which school would you pick if you were in my sitiation.

School 1.) State school which she is attending right now. Good Ofsted, friendly environment. She loves her friends, teacher and school but she always complaining about that she knows all the topic so she is repeating herself all the time, especially in maths. She sometimes doesnt want to go to school for that. School is 1 min walk away from our house. The reason we didnt want to wait until 11+ as I mentioned above I believe my daughter needs more challenge and also 11+ was really stressful for us when we experienced with our older daughter.

1. Independent GDST girls only school which my older daughter going to attend next year. It is not one of the best GDST girls only school but... We visited school really nice environment and facilities for girls. My daugther currently get dance, swimming, gymnastic leesons so i believe if she goes there she will improve her skills a lot because there are really nice after school clubs. I really liked the behaviours of the girls in that school too. In top 85-95 best schools list. And if we pick this school they will be together in same area - Senior and Junior is just 2-3 min drive away. And holidays, inset days will be same. School is 10 min drive from our home so we will drive to her is we choose that school.

1. Really good reputation really good results. Overall in top 40-50- in best schools list. This school was boys only since 2020 so recently became coed and we are unsure if they have good experience with girls education. And it is a Church school. The fee for this school is almost £3500-£4000 more per annum than GDST school and also if we choose that school she needs to go to school by coach which we will spend about £1500 for that per annum (she will get the coach around 7:50 amand come back home around 4:00pm so not too long journey). When we calculated in total we will spend £5000-6000 more if she goes to that school.

I will be pleased if you give me ideas which school I should choose for my daugther.

Many thanks

My view is that all kids are different and what might suit your older DD might not suit your youngest. I am surprised your not being pulled to one for your youngest. I have a friend who has twins and sat a few 7+ assessments and whilst both could have gone to the same school. She thought about each DC, her DD went to all girls and her DS to co ed .

So think about which school would work to your youngests strength which to me sounds like number 3.

@roak My older daughter can take train 1 stop and then 3 bus stop to school or from home 1 bus then 7mins walk. I think she can start doing that in next year or later but I dont believe she is ready for year 7. We moved this area recently and we do not normally use public buses with kids - She doesnt have experience. And on private school coach unfortunately there is no alternative route for SCHOOL 2. SCHOOL 3’s coach route is perfect but my older daughter never wanted to go to that school- she visited and didnt like it.
My younger daughter want to go to SCHOOL 2 now but I think just because of her sister will be there. She also liked the SCHOOL 3 when she had assesment. Driving to SCHOOL to will take longer, narrow roads, less parking space and traffic.
When ı think about our family SCHOOL 2, but when I only think about the my younger daughter SCHOOL 3. Because she loves learning and doing the best. When I asked for 7+ assesment feedback from the SCHOOL 3 they didnt tell me exact no but they said more then 270 kids she was in top 5. She actually deserve to be there.

Many thanks for the comment btw 🙏🏻

@chiangmai Many thanks for the comment 🙏🏻 Yes, thats what I was typing for another user. When I think how academic she is definitely SCHOOL 3... but its far, travelling coach, %90 boys in school etc I dont want her to feel alone. Maybe I am so overthinking.

@cafedesreves former teachers from which school sorry, School 2 or school 3? You mean bad or good. And thanks for the respond.

What does she want? (Obviously take with a pinch of salt, but it is relevant).

Either sounds good. School 2 sounds happier overall (for her but also for the family), while school 3 it sounds like the only thing going for it is that there will be other extremely bright children. Which is great, but unless you're concerned school 2 won't stretch her or if she wants school 3, I would not think it's worth it.

I would avoid a school with 90% boys and 10% girls. Either it should be 50-50 or 100% girls. I would choose #2.

@Solidaritea thanks for the reply. She liked the both when she visited but because of her sister she would like to go school 2. But to be honest she doesnt know the difference, ratings, how academic which school is. She summer born still 6, hard to decide for her. When I what do you feel if you travel to school by school coach she said “its sounds fun with friends but what if I feel sick mummy” :):)

@Solidaritea thanks for the reply. She liked the both when she visited but because of her sister she would like to go school 2. But to be honest she doesnt know the difference, ratings, how academic which school is. She summer born still 6, hard to decide for her. When I asked * what do you feel if you travel to school by school coach she said “its sounds fun with friends but what if I feel sick mummy” :):)

@ElephantLover thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

I'd probably go for school 2 and then if its not academic enough for her as she gets older, do the 11+ knowing she's got a guaranteed space somewhere.

It would come down though to how good school 2 is at stretching the most able even though its more mixed ability. Take a look at its ISI report which usually discusses this.

I'm guessing your choices are Eltham and Streatham and Clapham though. If that's not the case I might think otherwise.

@ConfusedaboutSchool thank you so much for the comment. I will check the ISI reports.

I would go for school 2 but with an open mind that she might want to move at year 7, 9 or 12.

@CakesOfVersailles many thanks for your comment 🙏🏻

What ratings are you comparing? Results? It might be that school three is more selective and will have better results because of that.

I would definitely choose school 2, I would not put my daughter in a school with more boys than girls.

@SheWoreYellow yes, I was comparing the GCSE the results. Definitely school 3 is more selective as they start from year ( school 2 start from nursery). I was told that school 3 try to have %50 boys %50 girls for new yeAr groups but still majority of students are boys because 7+ applicants were more boys. İn whole junior school and senior in total at the moment around 75 girls and 799 boys. After each year they will have more balance ofcourse but for example in coach service ı was told that all most there is no girl in the bus. I felt sorry when ı heard that because for litlle 7 years old girl doesnt sound fun, doable, and comfortable. Am I overthinking:/?

Definitely school 2,

School 2

@justasmalltownmum @PollyPerkins87 thanks you so much for your comments 🙏🏻🙏🏻

youve asked this question on a few different threads - and you keep getting the same reply - take Blackheath High - but it's obvious you really want Eltham.

So take ELtham?

Personally I wouldn't send a girl anywhere that had only just started taking girls but that doesn't seem to phase you.

FWIW every girl I know who has gone to ELtham has gone on some kind of scholarship as they're so keen to get to 50/50 quickly......

@ChnandlerBong many thank for your comment🙏🏻 But definitely no☺️

Ok well take Blackheath then? It’s just when people say that you keep saying why you think you should take Eltham?

If you’re unsure go for another look at both.

@ChnandlerBong thanks for the advice but after reading the comments I decided what to already☺️

School 2 is obvious choice.

I would also select school 2, itwill be far more convenient to have both girls in the same approximate location.

GDST all the way!