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Secondary education

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Original poster

Small rural high school or medium town high school?

26 replies

fourcorneredcircle · 14/01/2014 16:07

How do you choose?! Living in a VERY rural location offers limited choices that would not require well over an hour of travel. Either way the children would have to get a school bus anyway. Both schools 'require improvement' (as of Ofsted 2013).

The first option is a small (very small) rural high school
pros; Great ethos, kids are happy, everyone knows each other, has lots of sport, at least one concert a term, the teachers are experienced and tend to stay a long time so build up great relationships. Lots of green space, students encouraged to be outside and walking around, playing games etc. during free time. Improving results.
cons; Only one MFL taught, only two technology subjects taught. No sixth form. Older buildings and facilities. Pool only open in summer. Often only two classes/sets per year group.

The second option is a medium sized in 'town' high school
pros; teaches three languages, offers more technology courses. Has a sixth form. Has a year round pool. Some recent investment in facilities and ICT more up to date. More teachers. More movement between classes/sets and teachers.
cons; slightly further away... teachers are less approachable. Stagnant results.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
MrsBright · 14/01/2014 17:52

Small school EVERY time.

Better teacher/child ratio, more 'personal' interest by teachers, existing friendship groups (v important), smaller classes.

Picturesinthefirelight · 14/01/2014 18:02

Small school

I'm sending dd to a very small school with a specialism in the area she's interested in. It means there are compromises (1 language instead of 3, only double science, less choice of subjects etc)

But the advantages of bring in a small school (16-24 children per year) I would never have believed. Everyone knows everyone - it's so personal, your child. Is not just a number.

Our alternative school wasn't huge (680 pupils) so I can't imagine sending her to a large 1000 pupil school

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 14/01/2014 18:32

My DCs school doesn't even have a pool so I wouldn't worry about that.

They don't necessarily get to all the choices in a larer school. The 1,800 catchment school I didn't choose (which has a pool), theoretically offered four languages. In practice, my friend's DC had no choice of language in Y7 (it depended on classes) and has ended up with only one choice for GCSE.

My DCS school only offered 2 languages, but DC had a genuine choice of both for GCSE.

Original poster
fourcorneredcircle · 14/01/2014 18:59

Thanks for your input! I am swayed towards the smaller school but it's the seemingly smaller choice of subjects that would put me off. I was clutching at straws with the pool thing I think - its not exactly a deal breaker in the grand scheme is it?! Just a nice extra!!

There is a lot to be said for that personal relationships malarkey though, you're all correct.

Thanks

OP posts:
lljkk · 14/01/2014 21:43

Bigger every time if it were my choice.

Original poster
fourcorneredcircle · 14/01/2014 21:50

lljkk - why's that?

OP posts:
Starballbunny · 14/01/2014 22:03

Small school, stagnating results in a medium school are likely to see it in Special Measures, Ofsted are not in a forgiving mood.

SiliconeSally · 14/01/2014 22:08

How important are languages and technology subjects likely to be to your DC?

SiliconeSally · 14/01/2014 22:09

Special Measures being the fastest route to a massive improvement, possibly.
And more chance and scope to improve in a larger school, maybe.

SavoyCabbage · 14/01/2014 22:12

I would choose the bigger one. More subjects, more exposure to different teachers and different teaching styles, a bigger friendship group pool.

I would have thought that the bigger the school the more things that would be going on. Extra curricular clubs, team sports etc.

mummytime · 14/01/2014 22:14

I'd also go for bigger. Much better choice of subjects, also a better chance of meeting people with similar interests/abilities.

Picturesinthefirelight · 14/01/2014 22:35

I guess it depends how important extra curricular is. Dd hates sport & if she was at a normal school would be too busy dancing for school extra curricular.

Original poster
fourcorneredcircle · 14/01/2014 22:35

Friendship groups (as in wider oppotunities) are a good - as is the opportunity to mix with a bigger variety of people.
I'm not sure about the extra curriucular aspect to be honest. Due to location both schools are limited in after school clubs (majority of children, even at primary age take school buses). The smaller school pushed their sports more to be honest and living in the area we hear a lot more about the smaller school's shows, events and such (music, dance and drama). The bigger school does have a wider curriculum though - even if our children aren't bothered by Spanish and Product Design (?!) I wonder if not even giving them the opportunity limits them?

OP posts:
Original poster
fourcorneredcircle · 14/01/2014 22:39

Also, should the sixth form aspect be a consideration. About half of the schools in this county have a sixth form so whether they choose to stay on or go somewhere else would be normal - what do most do? I grew up in an area where everyone went to a sixth form college and husband was in the private system so we're blind leading the blind!

OP posts:
NotEnoughTime · 15/01/2014 10:20

If you were talking about a primary school I would say the small school but as you are talking about a secondary then I would say the big one.

Good luck!

MrsBright · 15/01/2014 11:24

Just because there are 'more subjects' doesn't mean he gets a wider choice.

We discovered that in Year 9 - only one DT subject choice allowed. Now looking at Year 10 - options restrictions will mean she can't do Geography with any language, can't do Media Studies with a Humanity, can't do ICT with Engineering and can't do Textiles with Cookery.

And just because 'fancy' subjects are on offer doesnt actually mean he will want to do them, or that they will be taught properly. Beware of 'glittery subjects' affecting your decision about which school HE will be happiest at.

lljkk · 15/01/2014 12:51

I would choose bigger because

  • more moneyfor resources
  • bigger friendship pool
  • more depth of experience
  • more diversity in types of pupil (probably)
  • bigger selection of options likely
  • differentiation is easier (DS went briefly to an indie secondary with only 12-25 in the yr group, makes differentiation hard)

I don't get love of small schools at all, though. The idea that they get to know your kid better or your kid gets more individual treatment: I don't see how those wouldhappen (except in DS size school)

Original poster
fourcorneredcircle · 15/01/2014 17:03

Well, thanks everyone. You've certainly given me more to think about.

OP posts:
SiliconeSally · 15/01/2014 17:53

MrsBright - that's terrible!

That is exactly the kind of thing parents should ask when choosing a school.

How big is your DS's school? I am not aware of restrictions like that in DC's large comp.

Picturesinthefirelight · 15/01/2014 18:03

I have to say that although dd is very bright compared to some of her peers I have no complaints about her bring pushed academically. Having 16 in a year group does give individual attention.

But I would say that differentiation is equally possible with 90 in a year group

woodrunner · 15/01/2014 18:04

I'd choose the smaller school, I think. But it would very much depend on the child's nature. If your DC is very confident and outgoing and likely to want a wide range of friends, then the bigger school might be better.

If it's a safe and happy environment, a child will thrive. The school you think is most likely to be friendly and secure is the right one. Everything else stems from this. You can learn a language outside school, if you really set your heart on it. You can do extra-curricular outside school.

My only misgiving about a school with no sixth form is that allegedly they don't always attract the best teachers as those teachers are never teaching beyond GCSE so don't gear up that extra level. Don't know if this is true or not, but it's something I was once told and took note of.

CointreauVersial · 15/01/2014 18:09

SiliconeSally - every secondary has GCSE "options" - even the big ones can't cater for all permutations of subjects. It's difficult to know about these up front, as they can change.

I would go for the bigger one. More opportunities, facilities, range of teachers, extracurricular stuff etc.

RaspberryLemonPavlova · 15/01/2014 18:20

What's terrible about 1 DT option in Y9? My DC did 5 over 2 years in 7 and 8 then could choose one for Y9. And the way DDs GCSE pathway is structured she can only do one DT for GCSE, but she could do a Creative Art one too.

I agree they should be able to do a MFL and their choice of humanity.

SiliconeSally · 15/01/2014 21:04

I know they have options that are mutually exclusive, but the ones MrsBright has encountered are very restrictive, IMO. No Geog with a MFL? The type of student who wants to do Media Studies would be very likely to want / need to do history, and ditto ICT and Engineering!

DC's comp is not remotely as restrictive as this!

TalkinPeace · 15/01/2014 21:19

big school
every time
DCs is 300 per year
the basic economics of school funding mean that bigger schools are better resourced
more setting
more specialisation
more sports teams
better orchestras
better theatre productions
more choice of friends
better SEN support
bigger library
taller climbing wall Wink