Outstanding state secondary or grammar?

[flusteredandtired2]

Two bright children, one particularly so. What do you think; send them both to local 'outstanding' comp or move out of county and try for closest grammars? I'm trying not to give too much away with regards to our area incase mums who recognize me disapprove of the mere suggestion of grammar schools.

I went to an outstanding comprehensive with 1600 pupils. I was bright and do not feel that it catered for my, or my brother's, needs in anyway. i had to put up with a LOT of class clowns and bullying whilst being left to "get on with it" by the teachers. I would definitely go for a grammar if it was an option for my children as they would be more likely to have the opportunity to learn more languages and to be prepared for the top Universities in a way which my school could never have managed.

Is the grammar in a grammar area, or a 'super-selctive'? What if either of the DC don't make it to the grammar ( many v bright children don't get into super-selectives because of the sheer numbers in the race), what would the alternatives be if you move? Bright kids can have a bad day on the 11+ day, (one MN-er at least is dealing with that).

Often top streams of comps have comparable results to grammars and other selectives.

You can't really make a decision on broad type of school - it has to be a comparison between specific schools, and in the context of the child.

The grammars (as there are a few possibilities in a close by county) are selective at admission but have no catchment (unless children tie and a choice has to be made regards who gets the place). We wouldn't move unless DS got a place and then would have to move and hope DD did the same (!). The o/s comp is close by, easier in many ways, doesn't require a move and they'd both go. But a bit of me feels like I may be taking away a great opportunity by taking the easier route. I'm just not sure what makes it so outstanding and think personally that ofsted's requirements may not be the same as mine.

You have hit the nail on the head with your last sentence! I'm sure the comp is a great school, but that doesn't mean it will suit every child.

Well, find out what makes it 'outstanding'.
Have you visited? You can generally attend Open Days a couple of years before your application year. Find out how each ability band achives (actually you can find an awful lt of this on the Governments education website on the individual school profiles), how the top bands do, what facilities they have, how broad the curriculum is, how many languages, sciences etc.
And do the same for the Grammar, too.

Thanks 'thereisaBLUhillfaraway', I have looked into the new Govt league table info and the bands seem to do as expected ie. if you join the school predicted a B you usually get a B and if you're predicted a C you get a D+ or a C- sort of thing - so that doesn't seem very outstanding, not failing the children but maybe not particularly inspiring either. I'm going to compare the courses available at GCSE and A level as I think that's a really good idea.

Or enquire on here - under a diff name if you wish - about how good your outstanding school actually is.

And look at A Level results and uni destinations - gives you an idea of what the high flyers can achieve.

Hang around the area at school chuck out time and see if the kids look like the kind of kids you'd like as your kids peer group - even better get the bus with them. Gives you quite an insight.

Coming a bit late to this thread, but as someone who has children at both an Outstanding comp and at a mediocre grammar, I personally, would not say a grammar is a be all and end all.

The older 2 DC are both bright and deservedly got places at the boys grammar, but both have underperformed and we have not been impressed by the general attitude of students or of final results. Yes, a lot of it comes down to the individual child and to some extent the parental input, but if the school is not behind them, then they start at a disadvantage.

Still early days with regard to DS3 at the comp, but will be interesting to see how he does at GCSE in comparison to his 'brighter' brothers.

Hi Greenshadow, can I ask why you chose the mediocre grammar over the o/s comp?

flusteredandtired2 It's all a bit complicated, but DS1 started at a Grammar school elsewhere in the country and we moved to Gloucestershire when he went into year 9. As they also had grammars, we managed to get him transferred and assumed it would be the best place for him. We therefore didn't know all that much about the school before he started - assumed it would be the better school. TBH, I doubt he would have got a place at the good comp, as it is always oversubscribed.

We had to start looking for secondary schools for DS2 within days of moving to Gloucestershire and at that point were renting in a different catchment to where we are now so the alternative to the grammar was not so appealing.

We have since bought a house in the catchment for the good comp, so had a realistic alternative for DS3 when his turn came.