WWYD

[ChampagneCharley]

I'll try to be brief, my daughter wants to go to a secondary outside our catchment area. School A is a 15 minute walk away, is an above average academy and is very traditional in its choices of subjects. The facilities are very good and they say they are strict on things like mobile phone usage.
School B is a half hour bus ride away, is ofsted good but only gets average in the results category. The facilities aren't so good as A and the buildings are pre-fabs and it reminds me of the school I went to in the 90's. But it does more dance and drama which is her absolute passion (she's currently
doing several hours of extra dance/drama lessons a week already) and wants to go to school B even though it means not knowing anyone and getting up early. Do I say it's ok to go to the more arty school and let her follow her passion or stick to the traditional school with better results but not the subjects she wants to do. WWYD?

First things first, do you stand a reasonable chance of getting a place at School B?

I'd check how much dance and drama she actually will get to do (especially in KS3). At DC's school performing arts are a big thing, but in terms of lessons, drama and dance are studied in rotation with about 8 other things, so they only get a term of each, each year through KS3. There are opportunities to get involved in both as an out of school activity (school productions/concerts), but the main parts always go to older students.

Unless there is a serious difference in curriculum offer then I would go to your nearest school and use the extra time not spent travelling on extra curriculars, local theatre groups etc.

Have you actually visited both school to see what's available and meet the drama/dance teachers? This could be a clincher, we went to 3 local schools and daughter hated the art department/teachers in 2 of them, luckily got a space at the 3rd which she loved. Definitely make sure you've visited both and got a feel for the departments/teachers before deciding, she can do extra dance/drama outside of school.

Average results overall doesn’t mean your daughter will get average results if she has above average ability and commitment.

Academies making a big deal of their zero tolerance discipline policies give me the heebie jeebies, and at least one academy chain is blatant and clear about teaching to the test to get ‘good results’.

Does the further away school really do lots of drama and dance throughout? Is there a steady extra curricular offer? Do they put up lots of dance and drama on their website?

If they really do deliver on Arts / performing arts, then I would pick that school. Your Dd is showing huge commitment by leaving her friends and opting for a longer journey. That’s invaluable.

Ofsted ‘good’ is a good school, and they will be working towards ‘outstanding’.

Arts programmes have been really cut back, make sure you would actually be getting what she wants from school b (the reputation may be out of date). A local theatre company maybe a far better option rather than drama through school