We have struggled between 2 secondary schools as to which goes first and which second for a couple of months and finally thought we had come to a decision. This week the results were released and it’s made me completely rethink what has taken us so long to decide.
There’s still time for us to change the choices but really need some unbiased/ external input/opinions on this please.
School A (Proposed 1st preference)
New academy. Due to covid this is it’s first results (became the new academy in the 19/20 school year). History of very very bad management. Was on the list of 100 worst schools in the county. Made headlines for all the wrong reasons (management related). Ended up with no management/trust and the new trust have taken over and really turned it around. Buildings were condemned but now has new buildings. It was a ‘not over my dead body school’ just 5 years ago but the improvements are phenomenal. The curriculum is fresh, forward thinking and I really like it. At GCSE they encourage EBacc but it isn’t enforced (big win!). The teachers are inspirational, some taught in the ‘old’ school and pushed for the changes they have now so are definitely dedicated. The head has vision. The trust is really good. The school values match with ours. Good range of extra curricular, good learning support and pastoral care. People have really high opinions of the place. When we went to look during the school day, I liked what I saw and the happy atmosphere and good pupil teacher interactions.
20 minutes walk/bus (40 minute walk)
Headline figures
Progress: -0.72
English and maths 5+: 28%
Attainment 8: 38.5
No ofsted.
School B (Proposed 2nd preference)
School with a proven history, been an academy for 10 years, and before that it was an outstanding/excellent school. It’s definitely one of the best schools in the area. They have a good curriculum, triple science is an actual option but EBacc is compulsory (unless they won’t achieve a 4+ in one of the areas). Learning support seems to be very good. They have a lot of extra curricular options, lots of spots and outdoors things eg John muir award, DofE, additional GCSEs in after school clubs for those who want to choose them. Teachers are dedicated and sent their own children there (says a lot). Lots of parents love this schools and sing it’s praises. I liked the feeling and atmosphere when we went to look around (during the school day), how happy everyone was, as well as how the teachers and pupils interacted.
45/50 minutes walk/bus (not in walking distance)
Headline figures
Progress: 0.33
English and maths 5+: 69%
Attainment 8: 57.9
Ofsted (from 2014) ‘outstanding’ but too old to bother with so we only skimmed it
The decision was extremely difficult but mainly went for A because it was closer, it’s making rapid improvements and without ofsted and results to look at there wasn’t a lot of different between what we were seeing.
For reference, our 3rd Preference
40/45 minutes walk/bus (not in walking distance)
Headline figures
Progress: 0.42
English and maths 5+: 64%
Attainment 8: 56.4
Ofsted (2018) ‘good’
Another schools in the same trust as school A (who have had appalling backgrounds but for different reasons and are now totally different schools) got the following headline results. Wondering whether this is a good indicator for how school A might be in a few years?
They’ve had this school approx 5 years
Headline figures
Progress: -0.18
English and maths 5+: 42%
Attainment 8: 43.4
Ofsted (2022) ‘good’
They’ve has this school approx 8 years
Headline figures
Progress: -0.08
English and maths 5+: 48%
Attainment 8: 52.9
Ofsted (2019) ‘good’
Im also aware that I’m maybe overthinking this, and after the last few years, putting results into context, it may be just there’s too many external factors in play with school A.