Can I ask a 21/22 entry q? Twins with different needs

[menofharlech]

I just wrote a massive long post and lost it!

Dds quite different- one academic and sporty but struggles socially and needs to be pushed.

The other is no slouch with school work and is a hard worker but needs to be nurtured and has low confidence. Total social butterfly. Also sporty.

We have 2 options really, both state comps. We live semi rurally but on edge of a medium town, roughly half way between the two although closer to school b. Don't think it's feasible to apply for different schools and not sure LEA wouldn't stick them together even if I did.....

School a is in top 1% nationally for GCSEs. New academy with great facilities and lots of extra curriculars but is quite driven. I think will really suit dd1 and may help socially as she may find her tribe with all the extra clubs and bits ( I know they often drop out of these but they've met like minded people).

School b is a bit of a shabby effort although good sports. GCSEs are average and ofstead a bit crap. But it's smaller, a lot of dds friends are going there and it has a reputation of being kind. Having the crappy ofstead means they are investing to improve. Dd2 wants to go here and is scared is school a.

We may not have a choice as I think school a is oversubscribed and school b is closer to our house. But what would you pick?

Many years ago, I think the admissions rules in the town I grew up in included prioritising twins being in the same/different school as preferred by the parents! If they can both get there independently, perhaps don't rule out different schools, if dd1 can get a place at school a. Would dd2 be happy at school b without her sister? It does sound like it might be a better fit for her.

The LEA won’t stick them together for the fun of it just because they’re twins.

Is it feasible for different schools in terms of travel, logistics etc.?

If you possible can manage it I'd do
A then B for one twin and B then A for the other.
They have very differing needs, they are suited to different schools

My year 10 Dd has a friend in her class who's a triplet and he has one triplet brother who was kept back a year and is the year below him at the same school, and another at a different school. The schools are walking distance apart though. They're individuals with completely different needs so really it makes sense to make individual decisions if the logistics can be managed.

I have twins - they choose different high schools and like not being considered a twin at school anymore.

Thanks for this - food for thought.

I've asked dds about the idea of separate schools maybe and both were fairly keen (they are both upset that they have to be together in y6 due to bubbles).

Need to think if logistics could work.

Really appreciate the views

I have twin DDs about to go into Yr10.

When we we're looking at secondary schools they both liked different ones so that's what we went for.

DD1 enjoys the sciences, is bright but can be lazy so needs a school which pushed her.

DD2 is very arty/drama/musical and works well on her own. Her school is a bit more laid back.

We've been fortunate in that both schools are Ofsted rated 'outstanding'.

It's worked well (especially during parents' evenings). The schools are in different LEAs so occasionally there are different term dates/inset days but not enough to cause any real problem.

Most importantly both DDs are happy with their choices and doing well.