Applying for a school you love far away- vs a good local one

[Dumbled]

Trying to move house and apply for secondary schools by end of month!

We have looked at several secondary schools and narrowed our first choice down two- one is quite far away and one that will be local to new house.

School A, the one thats about 30 minutes away just had an amazing happy atmosphere, lots of opportunities, teachers seemed amazing and just felt right. Had the "x-factor'.Lucky a bus goes straight there from where we are moving too but would involve dc on bus for 40 mins.Quite a few kids from neigbouring villages go but maybe none as far out as us.

School B, only 5 minutes on bus, a good school and happy with ut - but didn't "grab" us as much as the other. However Im thinking as dc gets older, maybe the chance make friends on doorstep to go into town after school might be better?

Both results pretty much the same. Academically I think A has the edge and , but B might be better for the friendshop/ community side

Does anyone have any advice? Help!

30 mins by car? How likely is it you will get in anyway if it is that far or is it private?

DD just started in year 7 and we live half a mile from the school. It is good that she can walk there easily etc but the friends she has made all live either in the opposite direction or 5 miles away! So although I prefer the idea of being close to the school so far it would make no difference friends-wise!

Go for what suits your DC better.

Nearer one every time, all else being more or less equal. Five minutes on bus would be walkable if necessary, wouldn't it? Long journey limits after school activities, causes more problems if anything goes wrong with transport, plus as you say, greater likelihood of having friends nearby to hang out with.

As homework ramps up, a shorter journey would be beneficial. If they are state schools, have you checked you would actually get into the one further away?