My ds is in year 4 and seems like everyone is starting to think about secondary schools! We live in catchment of super selective grammars, I've always presumed we wouldn't try for them as have other good choices locally but my ds has made lots of progress in the last year, is exceeding in everything and he has said he would like to do 11+ (lots of his class already talking about it...) It's unlikely he would get a place as it's so competitive and therefore is it worth it?! Really conflicted. Out of the following which would you choose?
- Grammar - excellent rep, gets better results than local privates, lots of extra curricular and would give lots of opportunities however would require 11+ prep, the stress of the exam and the potential disappointment. Ds is a bit of a 'geek' - not into football, loves talking about history/archeology/maths, wonder whether it would suit him more? He hasn't visited but loved the website. Would require a 30 min train commute.
- CofE state academy - excellent local rep, great results, small school, quite a restrictive curriculum (offers small choice of subjects as RE and triple science compulsory), lots of children from ds's school go here, would mean a 25 min walk for him but 5 mins away by car so feels a lot closer.
I would be happy with the second so wonder whether it is worth trying for the first but do I let ds choose?