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Secondary education

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Original poster

Who decides? Days left 😩

63 replies

Marypoppins19 · 24/10/2018 07:18

Two really good schools. One smaller, the other has been outstanding for longer. Smaller is a pain to get to but DS likes it much more.
Second School I prefer from ease of travel but I do understand some of his reservations - big, confident, a few characters from his previous school going who put him off. Lots of pressure to go there as everyone sends their kids there!!! Results slightly better there too. Wwyd?

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RedSkyLastNight · 24/10/2018 12:21

90% A-C for a non-selective school suggests it has a catchment of well off, educated families. I'd look at that as "astoundingly good" rather than the other school being bad.

20-25 minutes walk is just over a mile. That hardly qualifies as a long walk!

MissLingoss · 24/10/2018 12:23

I don't think a 20 minute walk from the station is a very long walk, especially as he gets older. How long is the walk into town from the other school, if he doesn't get the school bus?

I think greater flexibility regarding travel is a plus. I wouldn't be thinking just in terms of clubs, but also if he just wants to hang out with friends after school - go to shops, go to library, go for a coffee. Or just do something on his own.

The choice isn't just about what suits him when he's eleven, but what will suit him when he's fifteen or sixteen and wanting more independence.

Waspnest · 24/10/2018 12:43

Actually Bubbles that's true. Round here a 20-25 min walk would be along country lanes with no lights and no pavement but if it were through a town with houses and lights everywhere and dd was walking with friends I'd probably be fine with it.

Bestseller · 24/10/2018 12:51

So his choice, the smaller school, has a more complex journey but is actually closer to the and also has more flexibility for travelling away from school start and finish times?

Unless there was a compelling other reason for one school over the other, I'd go for that one. Never being able to stay behind after school will be a real pain and you'll have to collect when he gets detention misses the bus, which he will. Also, he needs to be able to travel to the area where most of his friends will live

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 24/10/2018 13:00

Bestseller I think you’ve summed it up. His choice still gets higher progress 8 scores than the other school. Two other children who he doesn’t really know, living in Our town have decided on the larger school as the bus is easier - I think that’s why I’ve wobbled

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Bestseller · 24/10/2018 13:14

I remember sending my DS1 off to the bus the first time and it was awful but actually his "commute" has worked out really well for all of us.

It means he's home later so he has less time home alone and he has an independence that children who go to more local schools don't get. He can navigate his way anywhere in the county on public transport now (at 17yo) which he does to meet friends from school and Cadets

From Yr 8 onwards it was really important to him to be able to "hang out" after school, be that in the library, High St or at a friend's. He wouldn't have been able to do that if tied to a school bus.

Also, a 20 min daily walk is really good for us mentally and physically. We should all do it.

MissLingoss · 24/10/2018 13:24

Also, a 20 min daily walk is really good for us mentally and physically. We should all do it.

I agree with this. I normally walk the first part of my journey, which is a 15-20 min walk. On occasions when I get the bus instead, if the weather's awful, for example, I definitely feel less awake and alert. Having a walk as part of the journey to school/work is a really good way to build exercise into the daily routine.

VenusInSpurs · 24/10/2018 14:39

He's going to get a good education at both, so I would let him decide. Buy in and enthusiasm counts a lot in the motivation and success of secondary school students.

Plus the school he wants is easier if he ha after-school clubs.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 24/10/2018 16:27

Then why do I feel a sense of sadness?!

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Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 24/10/2018 16:30

I know why I feel a bit sad - the staff at the bigger school were so lovely

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bellinisurge · 24/10/2018 16:42

I'm really sorry to say this but it's the Council that actually decides.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 24/10/2018 16:56

Last year, all church applications were excepted for both schools

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VenusInSpurs · 24/10/2018 20:53

The council don’t decide.

The schools put applicants in order based on how they meet the published criteria, and tell the council which pupils they can offer places to. The council’s role is to co-ordinate all the offers with the individual applicants, and allocate the applicant the offer from the scho that is highest up their list.

In the OP’s case it sounds as if they could get a place at both schools, in which case she decides, by virtue of which she lists first.

bellinisurge · 24/10/2018 21:08

But you only get an offer from one school.

VenusInSpurs · 24/10/2018 21:13

Yes: the offer that is highest up your list where they can give you a place. Which is why it is important that you list the schools in the order that you prefer them. So that if all could give you a place, you get the one you most want. That’s when you make your choice.

How does the council decide?

bellinisurge · 24/10/2018 21:19

The Council looks at the school's criteria and so even if you put School A first, your wishes count for nothing if you don't meet the criteria. Which can include catchment calculated as a matter of metres. If your neighbour is closer and there is only one place left, your neighbour gets it (assuming you and your neighbour meet the criteria equally other than the distance from school one).

VenusInSpurs · 24/10/2018 22:28

Yes, exactly. But that’s allocation according to how you meet the criteria, doen to the last few Cms. Not ‘the council deciding’.
And especially when you would get offered any one of two or three schools had you put them first.

Something really odd (like the overnight construction and occupation of a new tower block opposite the school) would have had to have happened had we not been able to get into our 3 nearest schools. Our 4th preference admits by lottery, and the person managing admissions told me that our name came up first time round.

But we had put that school lady anyway, And we got allocated our first choice school, the second nearest.

bellinisurge · 25/10/2018 06:09

We missed the first in our choice list by exactly the scenario I described- 50 metres. We lost an appeal that was decided by an independent panel appointed by the Council.
We got our second on the list and I am very happy with it. However if our heart had been set on the first on the list we would have taken an emotional blow. I have a pal who got her third choice. And know another kid whose parents were foolish enough to only put two on the list, all out of catchment. They were allocated a random school. After employing a solicitor (unnecessary in my view), they appealed and got the 3rd choice school my pal got.
All I'm trying to say is that even if you put a particular school as School A, the decision making hasn't ended and it isn't in your hands.

ItsalmostSummer · 25/10/2018 06:22

I would choose the easier door to door travel to school. Only my opinion.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 25/10/2018 08:15

It’s certainly the most obviously initially going door to door but not being able to do afternoon clubs may disadvantage my youngest who loves team sports. I do worry though that we want to move house and whilst easy to stay on a bus route, harder to stay on a train line route. I’m running out of time and this is getting crazy now 😪

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Waspnest · 25/10/2018 12:18

Bellinisurge I know what you mean. You can do all the research, compare all the schools, weigh up the options but ultimately without an older sibling (if that gives priority), a SEN/health statement or having a LAC you may not get your choice, it varies so much from year to year. Last year I put DD's catchment school first and the next two nearest ones second and third. She didn't get any of them (eventually got first choice via the waiting list) and it was a complete nightmare for a while. Only the OP knows whether the schools she is considering are oversubscribed and whether this will be an issue.

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 25/10/2018 13:49

All got in last year to both. Rewind 5 years and that wouldn’t have happened

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Nat6999 · 25/10/2018 14:39

I would choose a smaller school every time, my DS moved from a 1 class per year primary to a 12 class per year secondary school & he's found the change really difficult, we had no choice as all the secondary schools in our City are very big ones, I've been there at lesson change time & it's like a football match coming out. Due to the size of the school, communication is rubbish, if you ring to speak to anyone, 9 times out of 10 you have to leave a message on the answer phone, messages don't always get picked up. One size doesn't fit all & while some children thrive in a large school, others get overwhelmed by the larger schools & don't do as well as they would in a smaller one.

RedSkyLastNight · 25/10/2018 14:47

Nat smaller is the difference between 210 and 240 in a year. I don't think it will make material difference.

OP - don't worry about your younger child. You are making a decision for your oldest only! There is no requirement for them to go to the same school!

Original poster
Marypoppins19 · 25/10/2018 15:37

Red sky - wwyd in my position?
He is saying the smaller school so at the moment I’m trying to think of different solutions to get him home. It’s possible but not slick! And with homework etc im starting to think is it all too much hard work

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