Who decides? Days left 😩

[Marypoppins19]

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?

So his choice is 20 min walk to station, then trains every 20 min? How long is the journey and the walk at the other end?

I would support his choice unless there's a compelling reason not to.

Well I'd probably go with smaller school - I don't see how 20-25 minutes walk is a big deal (my DC had a longer journey from Year 3, granted without the train bit as well!), and I would just let him get on with it.
It seems more practical all around in time of getting to and fro, has best Progress 8, is not in the "bubble" I presume the other school must be in based on its results, and it's your DS's choice.

If you do move/he hates it - what would your chances be of moving schools in a year or so?

Is there not a bus to the station? Every bus in my town stops at the station on its way to other places.

I don't see the issue, really. Your DS wants to go to a smaller, decent school that's on a great train line.

It’s purely getting home from the station that concerns me. Wet, dark afternoons etc yes I can plan lifts and book taxi etc
I think if he hated it, much easier to get in mid year to the other bigger school rather than the smaller school.
It’s just frustrating that the bigger School he’d be totally independent of me

Is the walk from the station along lit footpaths in a safe are?
If so, just let him get on with the walk - no need to sort out lifts and taxis.

Outstanding for longer just means it hasn't been inspected properly for longer. Local one which is outstanding (which caused some eyebrows raised at the time even by some of the staff that worked there) hasn't been fully inspected since then-about 8 years ago. I know several parents of children there who have some quite serious concerns.

Some children do scoot to and from my dc's secondary. The main issue from what I understand is securing it if they can't fit it in a locker.

Right! The form is done. He’s happinesses is my priority and we will find ways to make it work. Even paying for two taxis a week is less expensive that the bus option to the larger school. We will make it work and with his determination to go, I hope he will invest in it so much more. Thank you so much for helping me to see things clearly

Op that's great, and I really think you won't need taxis. An 11-12yo can walk a mile and a bit from a train without needing a, taco, assuming no mobility issues and it's not an unlit country lane.

Haha he might want a taco to eat but he won't need a Taxi 😂

I just hope in time it proves to be the right thing

Lovely decision!

Is there a bus to the station?

No bus, but I can drop him quite easily as it’s on route to work.

An 11-12yo can walk a mile and a bit from a train....

And he won't be 11-12 forever. A 14yo can certainly walk a mile and a bit to and from a train, and unless he gets a lot of exercise otherwise, will probably benefit from doing it. And as he gets older, he'll probably like having the option to do things on his way home, which he wouldn't if he was tied to a school bus.