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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Which secondary school?

31 replies

Kia79 · 24/09/2023 20:44

Hi. I'm in a major dilemma. DD is in Y6 so we've got to pick a secondary school very soon.

We've got two secondary schools in our town. One is a 5min walk and the other is a 30min walk. The one further way is a much better school (academically and better facilities etc) but DD wants to go to the closer one...because she doesn't want to walk the 1.3miles to get there every day!

I've said she could get a bus for the days that it's chucking it down with rain but otherwise she'll have to walk.

I'm not in a position to drive her or pick her up and nor is her dad.

Should we choose a school based on distance or opportunities and results? Is a 1.3mile walk really that far?

Help!

OP posts:
redskytonights · 24/09/2023 20:49

Have you actually visited both schools? Has your daughter? Is she likely to get a place at the further away school? Is the difference in schools worth the extra distance?

In answer to your question, no, 1.3 miles is not too far to walk/cycle. But make sure you're picking the school for the right reasons.

clary · 24/09/2023 20:51

Yeps both of those sound eminently workable in terms of distance. So I would be looking at a host of other factors first. Visit them, look at school size, discipline, GCSE options, behaviour, vibe of school.

And yy check if she will get a place at the further one before you go much further in the process.

KnickerlessParsons · 24/09/2023 20:54

Has she actually walked to the furthest away school? Does she realise how close 1.3 miles is? About 25 mins, 20 if she gets a shufty on.

LadyGeorginaSmythe · 24/09/2023 20:57

Similar decisions here...5-10 min walk vs 30 mins. We're viewing both (& a 3rd, also 30 min walk but all uphill!) and I've suggested the kids choose on gut feel. From an academic point of view there not a lot to choose except the uphill one is slight worse. The kids have to get themselves there everyday so they can live with their decision. I think bright kids will do well anywhere if they have a decent work ethic. Kids who need more support to apply themselves probably need a school which will push them more. My son will be fine anywhere. My daughter needs more consequences for not trying her best...she's a daydreamer! I don't want them to go to different schools but they are very different people so I'm open to the fact they may select different first choices once we've seen them all.
I think it's good to genuinely take account of kid's views and opinions, but as parents we'll be thinking about other things too, and just because we place one school higher than another on the application doesn't mean they'll get a place anyway.

Original poster
Kia79 · 24/09/2023 20:59

Hey. Thanks for the quick replies.

We're on the edge of the catchment area but we are very likely to get into either. We have visited both schools quite a few times now and the only thing that's swaying her is the distance.

The closer school has always been notorious for being the underdog school, doesn't do well academically (it's progress 8 score is -0.4 vs +0.5) and is a third of the size (which I know comes with its advantages but it's severely underfunded). If we lived closer to the better school, there wouldn't be a dilemma. It's simply on distance!

Good to know that it's not unreasonable to walk 1.3miles though so I don't feel like a bad parent suggesting it! Thanks Smile

OP posts:
clary · 24/09/2023 21:01

oh wow those P8 scores are a bit different eh? How small is the one that is a third of the size? Other things being equal (ie if student would get a place at the larger school and could easily get there) I would choose a school around 1000 over one of about 350 [picks slightly random figures].

Original poster
Kia79 · 24/09/2023 21:03

clary · 24/09/2023 21:01

oh wow those P8 scores are a bit different eh? How small is the one that is a third of the size? Other things being equal (ie if student would get a place at the larger school and could easily get there) I would choose a school around 1000 over one of about 350 [picks slightly random figures].

I know. Worryingly different. They're gcse 5+ scores are pretty bad also. My DD does well in school and I do think she'd do well anywhere but I just don't think she'd be challenged enough in the closer school. The school sizes are 500 vs 1300 so not far off Smile

OP posts:
Tribevibes · 24/09/2023 21:05

I would always, always pick the closest school.

PuttingDownRoots · 24/09/2023 21:08

What are the gcse options like at the smaller school?

Both are walking distance really.

wincarwoo · 24/09/2023 21:26

Tribevibes · 24/09/2023 21:05

I would always, always pick the closest school.

Irrelevant at those distances though as both easily doable. Always choose the better school.

clary · 24/09/2023 21:30

Yeh 500 is a small school. I would be worried about range of GCSE options and also to a lesser degree friendships - even if no 6th form that's only 100 in a year, so 50 girls - not a massive pool.

It's all looking good for the mile-and-a-bit-away one eh? Was it better when you visited - vibe, politeness of students, impression from the HT?

slopsan · 24/09/2023 21:30

500 - no sixth form?
Too small for wide range of gcse options
I would go for the larger school

dinghymum · 24/09/2023 21:34

Can your DD cycle? That would make the longer journey much quicker.

Foxesandsquirrels · 24/09/2023 21:35

You'd be silly to let your 10 year old decide this and you know that.

GeorgeSpeaks · 24/09/2023 21:42

Would it be evil to tell your daughter you are going to put the close school first but actually put it second? Kids aren't admissions experts so you'd probably get away with it.

Would you actually get a place at 1.3 miles distance?

IdealisticCynic · 24/09/2023 21:59

Letting a 10 year old choose their school when they don’t have the capacity or reasoning to understand the difference between a better or worse school, let alone the impact on their future, is bonkers. Sorry.

Always choose the better school.

RedHelenB · 24/09/2023 22:43

Why can't she take the bus every day? That might make her change her mind.

ThingsWillWorkOut · 25/09/2023 00:27

Tribevibes · 24/09/2023 21:05

I would always, always pick the closest school.

Why? Dislike for a bit of excercise?

Ifonlyoneday · 25/09/2023 01:20

I would choose larger further away one. 1.3 miles is not far at all.

WorkingOnMyMindset · 25/09/2023 01:25

1.3 miles is actually a nice healthy bit of exercise for a teen

redskytonights · 25/09/2023 07:22

RedHelenB · 24/09/2023 22:43

Why can't she take the bus every day? That might make her change her mind.

You're assuming there is a bus ...
Although personally I wouldn't even be thinking about a bus for a 1.3 mile journey (DC cycled that distance from Year 3 to their junior school).
And nor would my DC. Do you walk much, OP? Time to start maybe?

Gro · 25/09/2023 07:30

She is too young to be making this decision herself. Why anyone would choose a bad school over a good school is beyond me. Who wouldn't want their child to have the best opportunities?

Boomboom22 · 25/09/2023 07:35

Tbh a 1.3 mile walk is practically next door. Mine does that after a 20 minute train ride. Rural schools are unwalkable often.

TomaytoTomaato · 25/09/2023 07:41

1.3 miles is really not far. Have you walked it with your child?
I used to walk 1.7 miles to school and it took about 30mins.

twistyizzy · 25/09/2023 07:45

@Tribevibes so you would always pick distance over quality of school/education?