Choosing schools - setting vs mixed ability, local vs bus...(sorry, long)

[LightTheLittleLight]

Another secondary school choice dilemma, sorry We are lucky in that all our choices are decent schools, but very different and I am tying myself in knots trying to make my mind up. Any comments would be appreciated

In case it makes a difference, DC1 is very bright but may be tempted to coast if not pushed. DC2 is not as academic but works really really hard at everything. DC3 too little to say.

We are choosing between 3 schools. School A is very local (10 min walk), very nice feel, great facilities. DC1 virtually certain to get a place, younger DC would then get in automatically. Tiny catchment so all friends would be local. BUT very vague on ability setting, in the main it is "left to teachers' discretion" and I understand most subjects are taught in tutor groups - I worry if DC ends up with a problematic tutor group he is with them for all subjects. GCSE results are good (maths slightly weaker) but Head freely admits will look worse under the new criteria for publication this year. A level results are ok with some good individual results.

Schools B and C are both a bus journey away, B would mean a day of 7.45-4ish, C would be 7.30-4.20. Both use setting/streaming for most subjects. Both good reputations, great facilities, good GCSE results. School C also has a good A level record, whereas School B has a new (thus untested) sixth form. Large catchment areas for both mean friends could be based miles away.

DC1 and 2 absolutely loved the open day at school B, the teachers and students were great and DC came home very inspired. The main downside is that it's a bit of a long shot because, although we meet faith criteria, DC isn't at a feeder school. If DC1 did get a place, chances are DC2 wouldn't (unless he switched to a feeder primary). Also logistics of doing any late pick-ups in the traffic e.g after activities (no late bus).

School C is a much bigger school (slight worry about DC being "lost") and seems to cater particularly well for the more able students. When we looked around we spoke to a deputy head who was lovely and really great talking with DC, good on pastoral care. We are theoretically out of catchment so not guaranteed a place (and no sibling priority for DC2) but past few years suggest we should be ok.

DC's choices would be B, A, C in that order - clearly based on where his friends are likely to go. I would love to have him local at A but worry about the mixed ability teaching and potential problems of being with one class for everything. I wonder if setting/streaming would suit him better. I would be happy to go with his choice (B) as a long shot but can see it causing problems for the younger DC in terms of admissions. My instinct is school C is a bit better overall - but is it enough to subject him to the longer day and bus ride, especially when he would prefer both other schools?

I suspect this has become an essay - sorry Would be grateful for any feedback on local vs bus, setting vs mixed ability, or anything else! Can't see the wood for the trees right now

B for academic reasons
A for logistical reasons, with two younger ones after school stuff to get to, picking up from after school clubs, certainly if he does lots of sport, will be a pain.

C that's the length of day my DDs have, it's too long. (No choice, that's the nearest school, just a skinflint council who run as few buses as possible).

Would school C mean your ds was out of the house from 7:30 to 4:20? If so that's not long at all - plenty of dc do that kind of day (or slightly longer) here and thrive. Your only problem would be after-school activities if there's no late bus

One of my dc goes to the local school - literally 5 minute walk round the corner - and he's very happy there (partly because there's no journey) but the other two are both out of the house from 7:25 to 4:40 and later if they stay for something after school. They are both at schools (different ones) which suit them much better than ds2's school for various reasons. The journey is fine - they chat to a different set of friends, dd sometimes does simple homework on the bus home or reads, and for ds it acts as a sort of decompression chamber between school and home.

Many pupils change schools at sixth form, so the A level results aren't really that significant. Schools with the best A level results usually have high entry requirements for starting the A levels. If he achieves well at GCSE he would probably be able to move to another sixth form.
You may not realise it if your oldest dc is only 11, but when dcs reach the teenage years (13-14) getting up early for school can be tough (for both them and parents). So if your local school is good that would be the preferred option (unless there is a good back-up travel plan if a child misses the bus).

Hmmm, some interesting thoughts - thanks.

There would be no back up transport to get DC to school B if he missed the bus, and no late bus after activities. He's not sporty and probably won't be bothered by that but DC2, if they go there, is likely to sign up for everything going.

School C has the late bus and is in the same direction as DH work, so at a push DH could drop off if there was a missed bus disaster! Easier logistically but DC isn't fully on board with this one and I worry he may end up resenting us for the longer journey - is that daft? Whereas School B is his choice so he can't complain.

As an added complication, we also potentially have the option of school D, a really excellent city centre faith school, amazing facilities and ethos, but this would mean public transport - train from local station (10-15 mins) then 10 min walk in city centre. DH had written this off because he wasn't keen on the journey but it's actually quicker than the buses so I wonder if we should reconsider. DC1 is unenthusiastic about this one due to lack of friends going, DC2 loved it.

D sounds like the best choice overall if there is a late train as well. I don't like mixed a bikity classes or large schools, though.

Stating the obvious, but they don't all need to go to the same school, especially if A was used for one of them. What's the age gap?

They can move for 6th form if needed.

Two years between DC1 and 2, then DC3 is another 6 years behind. So not a disaster if they are not in the same place as long as it works, I guess. In between their secondary applications I would need to apply for DC3's primary - which may or may not be a feeder school to A or B depending on where the eldest goes!

School D splits year in half, then into sets btw, I forgot that.

School A is our only safe bet for a place so has to go down on the list somewhere. We would probably get a place at C, we're over a mile within their first round offers from the last few years. School D - we would have a reasonable chance of getting a second round offer, so would need a decent back up for that one, and for B we would have to go to appeal (genuine reasons why DC couldn't go to feeder school so they might be sympathetic, who knows). Can only put 3 on form.

You are all raising some good points, so thanks

Mixed ability isn't a bad thing - it depends on the subject and teaching. English can be taught well in mixed ability. Early setting in science could define your GCSE options far too early. Setting is not always kind to borderline pupils who flunk on the assessment day then get demotivated if they are not top set.

School D sounds very similar to dds school OP - in fact it could actually be this school, if you would like to pm with your LEA or name of the city this school is located. I could let you know.
dds school does divide the year group into 2 halves with 4 groups in each half, but the actual setting procedure is quite complicated and varies for different subjects and year groups.

thanks catslife, will send a pm

I have pmed you, hope it helps with your final decision.