Taking tube to secondary school

[Avala2019]

Wanted to hear from parents whose kids take the tube to school from year 7. Considering a school in central London but the main drawback is that it is in central London and so DS, 11, would need to get a very busy train to work. The journey in itself is very short (35 minutes door to door) but the main issue is a packed tube station, packed tube where DS could get crushed, then packed station the other end. Not really what I want for him at 11.

We live in Zone 6, my older DC attend our local Catholic secondary. Their commute is 45 minutes to an hour by bus.

Both had a tricky first week including getting on the bus in the wrong direction coming home (or not, as it happens), but they soon learn.

Even in outer London there can be transport issues. One day DS rang me to say the high street was shut due to an accident and he didn’t know how else to get home. Fortunately each has money kept on their Zip cards, told him to catch the train then where to pick up the bus for the remainder of the journey.

With those choices I would opt for a Private and the commute. If you think he may lack motivation, much harder to hide that in a smaller class,

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

Type in name of school ( you can compare a few)

Results by characteristic

Prior attainment (to use this I guess you’d have to know, or take a good guess, as to if you’re child will be a low, middle or high attainer).

48% a bit low, agree, On the compare website which others mention above you can break down the data by prior level of achievement (just discovered this, sorry if you already knew). If you see prior high strainers with negative progress 8 scores, that’s when i’d worry a bit.

48% is still above the national average of 43.3%. OP, I think you mentioned 40% of pupils on free school meals? For such a deprived intake it sounds really good to get above average attainment. But do check their progress scores as that’s a very useful measure.

For me 48% is too low I’m afraid. If the private school is significantly higher then it’s worth the journey. My kids state school is 85%, we turned down City because in that situation it wasn’t worth the journey. In your situation and if you can afford it then the private school probably is worth it as you have a choice.

PS I know the school you’re looking at isn’t City!!!

Correction, the school has 7% of kids on free school meals, not 40%!! Big difference.

Applepie, is your kids' school 85% 9-4 or 9-5 (5 GCSEs including English and Maths?) The private school DS has an offer from is 92% getting 5 or more GCSE 9-4 including English and Maths. Not sure what the 9-5 results are.

What are the schools in question?
There'll be people on here who would be able to give very specific advice.

OP we didn't go private. We were lucky enough to get a great secondary, one of the ones people travel over an hour to get to. And luckily for us it's right on our doorstep.

So the decision was made for us.

We did look at CLSB (I know this isn't the school you're on about) but I didn't like it, and one of the reasons I didn't like it was I didn't want DS on the tube for an hour or so each day.

School buses are not the norm for schools in central London. Have you tried doing the journey together and letting him decide? Schools often buddy up kids coming from the same area so that they can travel together, which is also a help, especially in the beginning.

@applepieicecream can’t possibly be 9-5 including English and Maths if it’s a comp.

@applepieicecream can’t possibly be 9-5 including English and Maths if it’s a comp.

@JoJoSM2 it is indeed 85% including English and maths and it is a comp. Actually it’s over 90% without English and maths.

@applepieicecream you’ve really piqued my interest... What’s the school? I’ve never heard of one coming anywhere close to that.

Welcome to PM me but not going to post on here