Which would you choose?

[BreathingDeep]

I'm hoping you can help as I'm struggling to make the final decision and would appreciate any thoughts from those who have been there...

We live in an area where we're catchment for two schools and I need to put one as first choice and one as second, and it is so HARD!

School A is on our road and can be walked in less than 5 mins. It has been in special measures and the only Ofsted is from many years ago which is awful. However, it has been taken over by a multi-academy trust with a track record for transforming schools. The buildings are really tired in places but it has a huge programme of investment agreed which will improve things over the years and so far, they've focussed spend on an incredible Year 7 area of the school (where they spend most of their time away from the rest of the school which is big) which will really suit my child. The headteacher is incredible and her vision for the school is fantastic. There is a huge focus on the wellbeing of the child and for my daughter, who has anxiety, this seems an excellent fit. She would stay for 7 years, right through to A levels so would def benefit from the programme of work they have planned. It's reputation has been shocking but since being taken over, this is changing and I'm hearing excellent things about how children are doing there.

School B is in the same town but a 10-min drive/30-min walk away. Whereas School A has big plans, School B is already delivering them. It has an excellent reputation and their recent Ofsted is Outstanding. Like School A, there's a focus on the whole child which I love and both schools have excellent pastoral care. This school is slightly smaller which we like, though it only goes to GCSE, she would need to go elsewhere for A levels.

Asking around, I know of a lot of parents who rave about both schools. School A is changing its name for next Sept to shake off the connotations from before. School B is widely known for being brilliant.

It's more likely that children my daughter already knows will go to School A, but some may go to School B (which is oversubscribed). I like the idea that friends she'll make at School A may live close by. She preferred School A but was happy with B too. She loves the idea of being able to walk and our lives would be made easier by this. However, I don't want to prioritise our convenience over her education.

We also have another daughter who will be going the year after. She liked both schools too though was more drawn to School B.

What would you prioritise here? I appreciate we're really lucky that actually, we'd be delighted with either option.

Meant to say, most of both girls' friends will be going to School C which isn't an option for us, so where their friends will go isn't really a factor.

It always feels like you are trying to decide the fate of the world when choosing a secondary school for your children and it gets all out of proportion. I remember going to visit too many schools , most of which I knew we wouldn’t pick. I don’t think friendships should be taken into account - your daughter will grow and change when she starts her new school and meet new friends. School A has only one way to go - up. I would choose that one this time round and , remember, they don’t both have to go to the same school. sometimes that can be more of a curse with the teachers constantly comparing them.

Thanks mdh2020 and yes, you're so right, we've already discussed them going to different schools if that's what they'd prefer.

And yes, it's definitely out of proportion now. Just feels like such a big thing to get wrong, but I can't see into the future so I can only go with what feels right at the time. Thanks for your thoughts.

The language you use to describe school A "...incredible...fantastic... huge focus on... wellbeing... excellent fit" makes me think that it'd be more or less a coin flip between A and B even if they were equidistant.

Given that A is so much closer, I'd be inclined to choose it.

Re: your last post - you're right, many of us are horribly hugely guilty of over-agonising over these school decisions. Am pretty sure this was far less of a thing for our own parents [though, of course, good parents should do everything they can to shield kids from 'adult worries']. The other night I found myself awake at c 1am agonising over next year, had to give myself a good [figurative] slap in the face -and pop downstairs for a shot of gin to help me sleep-.

guh, I don't know how to use strikethrough.

If you both like school A I’d go for that. Its a massive timesaver over 7 years that she can walk there her friends will be local and the school is on the up. I’m thankful every day that my DDs school is 5 minutes walk away. They can get up later, have more time for homework and activities etc etc

Puffy and Sunshine thank you so much for your thoughts. And yes, you're right, the location is something we've not really thought about that much but there are definite benefits to having School A right on the doorstep.

A. My DC went to the decent school ten min walk away. They do tons of extra curricular so it's a massive benefit. Home by 3.30 on the odd day no club so doing homework is a non issue as so much time.
When I went to high school it took me 45 min at least at each end of the day.
No comparison

My DC go to a secondary they can walk to in 20-25 minutes. Eldest is now in sixth form and over the years they've been at secondary we've definitely been glad that's the school they chose. Not only are there the obvious advantages of getting home more quickly, it also means no crazily early starts, friends come to ours between school and evening events and during pandemics/train strikes/snow etc., our DC can always get to school under their own steam.

In your position, I'd choose school A.