Untested Free school or not great Academy?

[MeganChips]

They're basically our choices!

Within walking distance we have 2 secondary schools. One is an academy which has made good improvements in the past couple of years but still isn't brilliant. The supposed new wonder head has been let go and this years results were worse.

The building itself is new and well equipped.

The other school is a free school in its second year. There are no results to speak of but the word on the street is it's fabulous. Old building though and nothing is new and shiny.

DD keeps changing her mind regarding which she wants. Open evenings are coming up soon so maybe that will help.

There are other schools within a couple of miles but not on a bus route, across very un-child friendly roads and work shifts mean we can't commit to lifts.

I honestly have no idea what to do. Has anyone else faced a similar choice?

DS1 (now in Y10) chose to leave the local academy for a brand new free school this year. The academy is popular and gets good results, but it's the most joyless place in existence and he was totally lost in a sea of efficient systems and hundreds of other students.

It's a bit of a gamble, but he's much happier with his new school. The school need to get good results from his cohort if it's to succeed, so hopefully it will all work out. They spent several million pounds on a brand new building and loads of snazzy specialist equipment, so I don't think they can let it be anything but a resounding success. The teachers all seem pretty good so far, and the HT is great.

That's reassuring, thanks.

I'm thinking more the other way around. The free school is likely to be over-subscribed but the academy is under subscribed and won't be going anywhere. If the free school doesn't work out, we could always move her to the academy.

The free school could be fabulous, we know the academy isn't at the moment but schools change.

DH is really not convinced and would feel safer with the academy. Depending on what the viewings are like I'm leaning more towards the free school.

Unless they're actually unsafe, old buildings wouldn't be a factor for me at all. A happy atmosphere, caring, well-qualified and capable staff, high expectations, excellent behaviour management, good curriculum and appropriate facilities to deliver it - that's what I'd be looking for.

Good luck!

With the free school you do want to check the qualifications of the staff, tbh. The one DS2 goes to has only hired qualified teachers, most of whom have loads of experience (both of teaching and industry).

Op, a free school is just a type of academy, so structurally they are the same. However it is easier to set up an outstanding school from scratch than it is to turn around a legacy school. Sad, but true.

Plus, there may be advantages (or disadvantages) to being in the upper year groups of a growing new school, depending on whether the older kids at the established academy are seen as positive or negative role models.

I'll make sure I check the qualifications. I did read that when doing some free school research so I have that on my list to ask.

auto that's what I was thinking. Plus, the current school does have some less than great role models.

There is actually a 3rd option but it's in a different authority (that shouldn't be a problem). School is also an academy, new, shiny, fabulous facilitiies, exam results are awful but has an Outstanding Oftsted. DD really doesn't want to go to that one though so it's probably a moot point.

I would take this year's exam results with a pinch of salt though, especially WRT to English - there was another lot of goalpost moving mid course which will have made a difference. If it's across the board then yes, it might be an issue.