Pros and cons of newly established secondary school

[Andyburnhamseyelashes]

Hi, I'm looking for advice on what you may have seen or experienced with new secondary schools. DS will be going into year 6 in September and we've been looking around secondary schools (virtually, unfortunately). He is quite a sensitive soul and I think that a smaller school would be good for him, where he's less likely to just be a number. (However that's just a theory about how smaller schools work, please feel free to disabuse me of this notion if I'm way off the mark!) There is a school on the other side of our small town (so not catchment* and yes, it would be more difficult to get to but if it is right for him, we'll sort it). It's opening this September for 180 year 7s, so if he were to go in September 2022 there would only be year 7s and 8s, iyswim.

Although it's a new school, it's part of a local, successful MAT which has has a large, outstanding secondary school, a lovely infant school (v Impressed with it when we recently looked at infant schools for his brother) and junior school which had been inadequate bit had been turned around since joining the MAT. They are looking at replicating the already established secondary school at the new school. Personally I've found the local adoration of the established secondary much, it just seems a bit too good to be true, and indeed they had their issues a few years ago when the head left under a very dark cloud, but that incident seems to have been a one off, and the school seems to have continued going fine. The MAT's chief executive was actually the head at the infant school who joined the MAT when we looked round the infants for DS and I was very impressed with him as both a teacher and a leader. He ended up going to a different primary (where MAT chief exec had also previously taught!), as it was also good, but closer.

My initial instinct is that it's good to go to a fully established school so everyone knows what they're doing, but is the case? What are the pros and cons of going to a newly set up school please?

*As it's a new school, catchment for next year isn't quite clear. For 2021 intake it was nine miles away from the school (we're about six miles away). All the other schools in the town are closed than this new one.

They could both be equally good for the same or different reasons. So long as the new school has been going for a couple of years at least and isn't planning on moving buildings or anything then take your pick.

Your DC could go to the best School in the UK but if he has classes with other DC he doesn't get on with then what's the point. He could go to a not so great school but have a class full of amazing bright talented DC who all do well.

You just never really know.

You have to go by the feel of the place and ignore past reports as schools can change quickly.

I personally would choose the more established school esp if it already has a decent reputation as things tend to flow better. But read as much as you can about both and ask around. Ignore whatever the old head got up as that's old news and irrelevant

Catchment May change significantly depending on the reputation the school gets over the next year or so, although you’ll be applying whilst it’s still very new.

Knowing a few families who had DC at a new school in this area (mixture if the first and second intakes), they had mixed views. Some loved it, some less so.

Thoughts they’ve shared included:

• DC got a lot of attention and got to know staff well, which some found positive, others found quite intense at times as a lot of expectation on DC to perform

• Lots of policy changes on er the first few years, sometimes felt a bit like the guinea pig year and that there was a fair amount of trial and error

• Fewer extra-curriculars in the early years, particularly things like orchestras and drama which benefit from mixed ages (but then also more likely to get picked)

There was a mix between those who stayed for sixth form, and those who went elsewhere (although this is a partly grammar area, so not unusual to move at that stage).

We had one open near us several years before DS started secondary. I kept a close eye on it (But DS chose so where else as first choice, and got in). Not part of a MAT.
Pros: great facilities, purpose built.
Has ended up with decent gcses results (no alevels til this august).

Cons: initially all in portacabins while the school was built
Initially skeleton staff - so one science teacher, one humanities teacher etc ie teacher were teaching out of their specialism.
Initially, reluctance to send children to the unknown left it under subscribed, and so those at risk of sanctions, or struggling to fit in elsewhere, moved there. It got a reputation of taking all those with socilisation needs for a few years.

It is now (6?? yrs on) popular and succeeding. It was ropey for the first couple of years.

Thanks for your comments, it's really great to get some insight. I'll not write it off as I had initially thought if doing, simply for not being established, bit will definitely give it some serious consideration.

My DS went to a newly established school in its opening year and is now in sixth form. It has been a very positive experience for us.

When new schools open they have some of their funding front-loaded so they can employ senior staff - a head, probably a deputy, and heads of department for core subjects (English, Maths, Science as a minimum). Provided they have got a good Head, he will attract high quality teachers into these roles. You will hopefully get an opportunity to meet them before the school opens. It means that from year 7 your child will be taught core subjects by senior teachers who would normally be reserved for Key Stage 4 or 5 classes. They will also be the sort of teachers who are attracted to the challenge of growing a new school, so should be relatively dynamic. (If they give the impression they are only working there because they think a small school will be an easier job, then steer clear - it won't be).

They will need to get the core and foundation subjects well established, and grow pupil numbers before they can afford teachers for more niche subjects. Some teachers may teach 2 or more subjects and the second subject may be outside of their own specialism - but that happens in established schools too. You won't know what options will be available at key stage 4 until nearer the time, and the options may be fewer than a larger, more established school.

However, the upside will be that your child's year group will be full focus of everyone's energy and attention. No child will be allowed to fall through the cracks because they will need to demonstrate successful attainment and progress to the outside world. They won't be competing for resources with other year groups and everything will be shiny and new. My DS loved his experience. and has done really well.