which schooling path would you choose? grammar ( far away) or local

[goodbook200]

ds is in year 4. we have a local school secondary comprehensive where my DP works. or another option to consider grammar schools but we would probably need to move the house and DP would travel to his work. Am I over complicating? is the local school and my DP would give him a better supportive environment, especially if it is local - meyba he coudl spend more time reading/ practising rather than travelling on a bus twice a day. please share your thoughts

The problem with moving for a grammar is that your dd may not get in.

Then you would be stuck in an area that is inconvenient to live in, and often with a poor choice of secondary moderns. I'm assuming your dd is bright, but often bright children do not pass the 11 plus. Being on the top table does not equate to 11 plus success, and passing the 11 plus does not equate to guaranteed academic success.

Sorry, I appear to have changed your ds to a dd .

What does DP think? He knows one school inside out, and will know enough about the other options.

Grammar places may come down to distance if DD is on tie-break category/score. When would you need to move by, and as asked above, what are the fallback schools for location b? Or does DP's school have a priority for DC of staff, in which case distance at time of application is less important, but she gets the commute with him.

No guarantee that DS will get in.

Is there any particular reason he needs a "supportive environment " in secondary school? Bear in mind too for some students having their parent working at their school is deeply uncool and maybe even a hook for the bullies

My DD got a residual place in a GS ~20 miles away, which we chose in preference to the nearby good comp . She loves the school (its very 'supportive'), positively enjoys the bus (its the social club!) - right decision for her. But I don't think we'd have moved just to get her into catchment.

There are all sorts of factors to consider -
Would she get in, DD1's DF got in on the waiting list, another bright girl didn't get in this year, probably because more children entered (the better comp has been put in SM).

Can you move really close to the Grammar?
DD2 refused to have a go for the Grammar because of long journey and wanting to go to the same school as DD1 and her DFs.

Yes 10/11y can refuse, you can't make a child do a practice paper, certainly not without making life hell.

Will your DH resent the commute?

Is there actually anything wrong with the comp?

(So glad we don't live in a grammar area).

Are there any thoughts about single sex vs co-ed? We had a similar choice but I am keen on co-ed.

I would choose local I think if comp good. If it's a big comp he won't come across DP much maybe anyway. Might be different if very small school.

Local friends and inside knowledge always good.