6th Form - Move to Super Selective or stay at Comp?

[AmazeAmazeAmaze]

Son has gotten very good GCSE results - good enough to apply for 6th form at a super selective grammar (which we toured earlier in the year).

He liked it very much at the time but now it’s crunch time to decide whether he applies he is having a wobble and wants to stay at his existing school. Current school is OK - gets good GCSE and A level results but my son has found them lacking in discipline and his classes were often disruptive.

The headteacher has assured us that 6th form attracts the more academic students and the ‘disruptive element’ generally go elsewhere.

The Grammar is 15 miles away and requires approx 1.5 hours travel each way (very very busy commuter route) and I think this is the biggest stumbling block for DS who is not the best at mornings.

His current school says if he goes to the grammar and doesn’t settle he will be welcome back ‘without question’ but he has ASD so finds lots of change very hard.

Im torn as to what way to steer him - the grammar sounds good on paper but I’m wondering if the upheaval and disruption to his routine, having to get used to a new school and the initial stress of it all is worth it in the long run?

Stay local. Impact on friends and hanging out etc too big otherwise.,which really matters

3 hours a day is ridiculous. Especially if you are going to be reliant on public transport, it will always take longer and will likely be heavily effected by strikes over the next year or so

The commute is too far. Would you want to spend 3 hours a day travelling?

I wouldn't move a teen against their will. Their well-being matters as much as their results, and moving away from friends and a school they like well enough, to an unknown quantity where they have to find their feet again is a big deal. Add on to that the distance (so fewer pupils local to you as potential future friends) and I'm really not sure there's a compelling reason to go against his wishes.

But there's one other factor - last time I looked, Imperial required STEP in maths for Comp Sci. Will his current school be able to support that?

How are the teaching staff/departments at the current school of his subjects? If they are able to teach to A* standard I would be tempted not to move.

I think if this was me I would keep them where they are. Despite the disruption they got brilliant GCSE results, so it doesn't effect them so much as annoy them. Comps change dramatically at A Level.
I would not choose that commute to work every day and neither would I want my child to have that commute to school on top of learning all day. It sounds grim.

Thank you everyone.

We have had a long chat and he has decided to enrol at 6th Form at his current school.

The main issues were the huge change of routine / settling into a new school and of course, the commute.

He is a little concerned that the teaching for physics is a bit lacklustre but we can probably overcome that with a tutor in Yr 13 if needed. He’s happy with the standard of teaching for maths and comp Sci. The school does send a handful of pupils to high end unis and onto Medicine / Dentistry / Vet med courses so they are used to helping the brighter kids.

Thanks again everyone for your input it’s been so helpful.