Choosing secondary schools

[mammasmadhouse]

Dear All

Hoping you can offer me the benefit of your experience in choosing a secondary school. Starting to think about our local options for my dd,
who is academically doing well. Our nearest school is an all girls school, who have good GCSE results 85% at grades A-C and good value added ratings. However dd is not a girly girl and has said that she thinks she would prefer a mixed school, the one school she has mentioned is slightly smaller than the girls schools and further away, but in terms of results considerably lower at 45% and a minus value added score. In terms of how she learns she is very much I am hear to learn, so no messing about and knows what is right and wrong, so on the one hand think the girls school would be the better option academically but I am just not sure if she would struggle with it being an all girls school. What is the best way to approach this...?

My dds have both been very happy in their girls' school, and neither of them are 'girly girls'. They both do (different) hobbies which are more male dominated, and do not rely purely on school for their friendship groups.
From your description, Id send them to the better, nearer school. No brainer.

I prefer co-ed, but in your situation i would definitely go with the girls' good VA school

How large is the girls school? If there is large cohort it shouldn't be too much of a problem for her to find friends with similar interests. DD is at all-girls and deliberately picked out a group of girls who weren't into "fuss and drama" as she put it. Her friends are quite different but share a generally laid back approach to things.
A school with 45% isn't necessarily a bad school - it would depend on the cohort. Is it in a deprived area?

I would visit both schools with your dd and get a feel for them. They must likely do tours and open evenings will be starting in the autumn

This isn't WS school by any chance is this? The school who has just achieved 51% of GCSE grades being marked A or A*, the highest percentage of any state non-selective school? Although the huge gap between the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and the rest is a bit worrying.

I think most people would not really hesitate before choosing this school. I'm torn between thinking its very brave and admirable and shrieking "Are you insane????" (Joke)