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Secondary education

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

Struggling with school choice

13 replies

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 13:17

Got a bit of a dilemma and wondered which school people would choose. My son was offered his 4th place secondary school but I have since had an email offering the second place. I'm unsure of which one to go with now.

School 1 (the one he has been offered) is 8 mins walk from our house his brother goes there and its his preference (he told me after he applied he was hoping to get this one) however it has an awful reputation. Its the worst rated school in the borough with the worst outcome for children and has a bad problem with bullying and a all round bad reputation, like well known as being a school to avoid and most of the local parents avoid.

School 2 he has been offered is 45 mins away by bus and I'm concerned about traffic making it longer.. However it has been consistently rated good but he won't know anyone there, won't have any local friends or sibling at the school. However seems to be the better school and doesn't have an awful reputation and haven't heard anything negative about it. I just don't know which one to go for though. My older son is disappointed he won't go to the same school but I don't want to miss out on a better school to make my older child happy. Which school would you go for?

OP posts:
BadBerlin · 07/03/2025 13:36

How is your older son finding life at school 1?

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 13:39

Not good. He doesn't have any friends has experienced bullying. He was looking forward to his brother joining so he would have someone there

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 07/03/2025 13:41

Reputation amongst parents can be put if date.

What is the school actually like now?

Recent ofsted? New HT?

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 13:51

Ofsted is requires improvement in all areas. Son goes there and I'd say the ofsted is correct. The inspection was in December 2023 which was just after he started

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DustyLee123 · 07/03/2025 13:53

I’d go for which ever your son wants to go to.
I went to a school with a bad reputation, and I loved it, never had any bullying or any problems. There were others that did though.

RedSkyDelights · 07/03/2025 13:54

Never mind what school 1's reputation is - what is the actual experience of children you know there? Are your older child's issues widespread and likely to affect your younger child as well?

I would not want to send my child on a journey involves a 45 minute bus ride. I think it's too far (it's likely to turn into an hour or more by the time delays, waiting around etc are factored in. Plus he won't have local friends and less opportunity to do after school clubs etc). Depends if the first school is genuinely bad and not just "hearsay bad".

Pinkl · 07/03/2025 14:00

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 13:39

Not good. He doesn't have any friends has experienced bullying. He was looking forward to his brother joining so he would have someone there

What year is your older son in? If he’s not happy would moving him be an option? Does the school that’s been offered to your other son have a sibling policy?

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 14:02

RedSkyDelights · 07/03/2025 13:54

Never mind what school 1's reputation is - what is the actual experience of children you know there? Are your older child's issues widespread and likely to affect your younger child as well?

I would not want to send my child on a journey involves a 45 minute bus ride. I think it's too far (it's likely to turn into an hour or more by the time delays, waiting around etc are factored in. Plus he won't have local friends and less opportunity to do after school clubs etc). Depends if the first school is genuinely bad and not just "hearsay bad".

It definitely is bad my older son goes there

OP posts:
LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 14:03

Pinkl · 07/03/2025 14:00

What year is your older son in? If he’s not happy would moving him be an option? Does the school that’s been offered to your other son have a sibling policy?

He won't consider the school my son has been offered so unfortunately that won't be an option. He is year 8

OP posts:
billandtedsexcellentadventure · 07/03/2025 14:36

Can I ask why they have suddenly emailed with a change in school?

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 14:38

They have not said but id assume someone has declined so its been passed down to next on the list

OP posts:
OxfordInkling · 07/03/2025 14:44

School 1 is not good. So pick school 2.

you may yet get your first choice school in any case.

LemonNLimes · 07/03/2025 14:47

Unlikely to get first choice it's a very popular school oldest was number 212 for it when we applied

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