Caterham v Grammar

[Parabolica]

Having an almighty breakdown trying to decide between Caterham and a super selective grammar for my daughter. Downsides of Caterham is that it’s around a 30 min drive away (and of course has £££ fees compared to grammar). But my daughter strongly loved Caterham on all of her visits / interviews. She didn’t get the same feeling about the grammar school. But then again it can’t really match facilities and doesn’t offer the red carpet treatment that independent schools roll out.
She is very academic and loves drama/performing. Not sporty so all those lovely Caterham sports facilities aren’t crucial for her. But the drama offering will be better there.
Friends wise - not much advantage either way. She knows one girl going to each.
Almost out of time on this one. But would be HUGELY grateful for any advice.

What grammar? Wallington?

What SS?

Oops sent to soon. I'd be looking a distance, travel times. Caterham is a great school.

Surely it is ss vs coed? 30 mins is a fair drive, not unusual but could easily be longer at peak times. Are you on a school bus route? Drama facilities are good but not many take A level and many drop it after year 9. Has she got a performing arts scholarship as scholars tend to get priority in productions and concerts, although open to all. Plenty of alternative sport options from year 9 onwards.

She would get a bus to Caterham - 40ish mins each day. Would have to get a train to grammar school (TGS) but it’s closer to us.
Good point re Co-Ed and SS. She is fine with the idea of both. She likes girlie things but isn’t very girlie in personality (doesn’t tend to follow the pack).
Not got a drama scholarship - so that’s a good point I hadn’t thought of (scholars get priority). She got academic scholarship to Caterham. Feels hard to turn that down. But we still have fees. Wondering if her strength is academics then maybe TGS will offer her most of what she needs/wants.

If you think she would thrive in the focussed atmosphere of a grammar then I would take it. The money you save is so significant.

To be honest, with independents, you’re paying for the stuff ‘on top’ of the academics. It’s an entirely personal decision on whether you are happy to invest those sort of sums.