Cfbs vs smma

[loubennett]

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

No idea what those acronyms stand for, sorry.

Central foundation boys school and st Mary Magdalene academy.

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?

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

what did you decide OP? We’re currently deciding between these two for Sixth Form.