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Secondary education

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

Cfbs vs smma

8 replies

loubennett · 26/09/2025 07:30

Hello son has offers in y9 at both cfsb and smma and we are really struggling to make a choice.
both school we love and we really are struggling to decide.
any tips, help, recommendations?
tia

OP posts:
LetItGoToRuin · 26/09/2025 08:44

No idea what those acronyms stand for, sorry.

loubennett · 26/09/2025 10:13

Central foundation boys school and st Mary Magdalene academy.

OP posts:
clary · 26/09/2025 11:01

Yeh I always wonder why posters don’t just say. I have seen QEGS so many times but there are several - there’s one near me but I doubt that’s the one people mean.

No knowledge of either of those sorry OP but maybe say where you are - or ask MN to edit the title?

TeenToTwenties · 26/09/2025 11:05

Never heard of either of them
As this is y9 are they private?

Consider
. Cost/added value
. Distance
. Pastoral care
. Ethos
. Results
. Extra curricular

HighburyHope · 26/09/2025 11:45

OP - how does your son feel about all-boys versus co-ed? Can you visit each school again on a busy school day? Also given the different locations and the very slow traffic locally, how long would it realistically take to get to each in the morning rush hour?

Ennadsa · 26/09/2025 21:35

SMMA is much more sought-after and middle class. I think mixed is generally better for boys.

Daisydaisydoohdahday · 27/09/2025 16:27

Another question might be how much outdoor time he likes? I know neither school is fabulous for outside space but CFBS I thought was particularly concretey. The astropitch is bigger than SMMA but also quite dark whereas SMMA's is v pleasant on the roof (+ they have chickens up there!). These may not be relevant considerations for your child, but just some thoughts. The feel of the two schools is really different.

velomumhackney · 13/04/2026 18:15

LetItGoToRuin · 26/09/2025 08:44

No idea what those acronyms stand for, sorry.

but people who recognise the acronyms will have an opinion. if you don’t know them then you can’t contribute. and that’s ok.

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