Grammar versus Indie in sixth form

[MerryM]

Hello all I have a dd at the Kendrick grammar school in Reading she is in year 11 and is having to commute from Kidlington, Oxford with me daily. She is worried that in her sixth form that she will not have time for the commute especially as my job is moving location so I will not be able to pick and drop off at school anymore. She has applied to St Helen and Katharine in Abingdon and been offered a sixth form place. She also applied to Magdalen college school and is on the waiting list. We are wondering if its worth spending that money on her last two years of secondary school as she is already in an excellent school and we will struggle to pay!!!. At the same time I am thinking St H&K are closer home and are a very good school. She hopes to apply for medicine at Oxbridge or a Russell group uni and thinks it will be easier from St H&K. We have until the 22nd of April to decline or accept her place after which we will have to pay a terms fees in lieu of notice at St H&K. Will I be jeopardizing her chance of getting the grades she needs at A levels if she remains at her Reading school and is commuting far?

Will I be jeopardising her chance of getting the grades she needs at A levels if she remains at her Reading school and is commuting far?

It's not just about the grades. For medicine she will need work experience too, which is another bite into her time. As well as a social life!

Yes I know which is why she is complaining about commute. She has applied to JR for work experience and will know by the 14th of April, she has also secured a weeks work experience at Manchester Hospital over the summer and some work in a hospice here in Oxford. Try getting her to have a social life!! At least she agreed for the first time in about a year to go and see a film with some of her friends at school last Friday.

Our DD had been in state school right up to year 11 and did well in her GCSEs. We chose to let her go to a private school for sixth form even though the fees would be a massive drain on resources. It is a decision we definately do not regret. She has absolutely flourished in the private school, not only academically but as a person. The school has also provided a lot more help with regards to writing university applications and getting work experience that the state school simply couldn't offer. I would say yes it is worth the fees for 2 years from our personal experience.

Thanks hardestdecisionever very helpful

Merry, it sounds less a dilemma of grammar versus independent but more is the commute tenable and private being the only alternative. If she is saying that she wants to move then I would follow her lead and let her. It will give her so much more time and growing space. I assume that she would not be able to get a place at the very good Cherwell sixth form comprehensive in Oxford?

Actually I have did not try the Cherwell Sixth form, it did not occur to me.