Which school? WWYD?

[Blaclara]

Hello,
My daughter is naturally bright. She is an all-rounder-she plays musical instruments, does LAMDA, and loves sport and art. Also really good in stem subject -. Her GL CAT scores have always been 137+. She has never had a tutor and has not attended a prep school, but she passed several 11+ assessments, including top grammar schools.
Our first 3 option:
School 1:
Her current school! She would leave home around 7:50to get the bus, or I can drive her in about 15 minutes. She is currently in this school, she knows the environment, feels happy there, and has always been a top student. She also received an academic scholarship (%15). Fees are lower but facilities are better in other schools. A-A* %75.
School 2:
SHHS -She would need to leave home at 7:15 to catch the school bus. The journey is safe, but quite early. Some days I could drive her, but it takes around 45–55 minutes. %89
School 3:
City of London School for Girls: She would leave home at 7:40, walk to the station (5 mins) catch the 7:45train (20-25 mins on train) and then walk about 10–15 minutes to the school. A-A* %96
Which option is more sensible for a secondary-school-age child, and which school would be the best choice for her?

Has she had taster days? Which does she prefer?

I’d never move a happy child from their school. If she wants to move to one of the other schools then fine. Otherwise I’d just continue where she is already happy.

@Meadowfinch next week we ll have offer holders mornings

DS did taster days at his possible schools, and I did the parents evenings. Then we compared notes, and (luckily) agreed on the best choice for him 😁

@SophiaSW1 She is a really friendly, social child and doesn’t have a shy personality. I don’t think she’ll have any issues with friendships or adapting to other schools-the /ISI reports are also very good in other schools. She won’t be going to a worse campus in terms of facilities either, so why would she be unhappy in new school? Not sure:/

Has she looked round the other schools? What does she think of them ?

I think you do need to take into consideration her happiness. Having a child who is happy and flourishing at secondary is huge. Option 1 I guess you think the exam results aren't good. But your daughter is likely to do well wherever she goes, so it is about the experience and opportunities.

Alot of pupils travel to school and you need to factor in after school activites. And it is bloody miserable travelling in wet cold winter days.

What is she interested in? Is there anything specific that one school offers that the others don’t?
we have 3 secondary offers too and honestly there isn’t much difference between them. a clever and academic child will do well in any of the schools you mentioned. So now it’s about minor differences or/and the commute. I would go for City of London as seems like your current school is middle of lane and not best facilities. Commute for SHHS is very long.

I don’t understand she has never attended a prep school but her current school is fee paying?

I'd choose school 1 - better study/life balance for her (and you, on the occasions you may need to drive her); she's bright so she'll do well academically at whichever school she goes to; fees are lower.

I suspect OP means the current school is an all-through so not focused on prepping for 11+ as the majority would go up to the senior school.

@SchoolDilemma17 @NameyMacChangey yes, thats right, its all through school x

@snowgirl1 My DD1 used to go to School 1, and even though the school was close (20-25 mins by bus) all the children would spend time together after school and come home later. The earliest she got home was around 4:30–5:00. Maybe going to a school that’s farther away could help her behave more disciplined

If you are moving her at the natural point - from prep to senior, I would say option 3. Those results speak for themselves.

@hulkincredible yes, city of london girls 11-18 - she got offer for year 7 (11+)

I’m not saying she’d be unhappy in her new school at all. I’m just saying I would never move a happy child from their existing school unless they really wanted to.

City sounds an easier commute over SHHS so I'd choose that if she wants to be stretched a bit academically. Trying to think what your current school could be - sounds like FHSS or similar? You haven't said if she really wants to stay on, or is instead kind of ready for a fresh crowd of faces, which is quite common at this point? Either way, it's a toss up between City and her current school I'd say.

We are in similar situation🫣

I wouldn't move her based on results alone (and I think the SHHS commute is too long), but if your gut feel is that she'd benefit from the CLGS environment - not necessarily just academically but also other apps), and she's excited by the idea then I think you should give it a go! Highly likely you'd be able to move back if she did end up unhappy - but I don't think that's likely. However if she's dead against moving then that might change things for me - but I think I would encourage her to try it.

Definitely not 2 - that sounds a miserable way to live.

I have a dd a bit like yours. At 15 she is now on the Team GB pathway for her sport. Training / travelling averages about 32 hours a week. And she is trying to take her GCSEs. Luckily her school is only 20 mins away so she can get home and start studying / doing her S&C immediately. We didn’t know when she was 10 that things were going to get so serious with her sport. But if you go for school 3 then you are probably ruling out the option of really serious sport and music. And that seems a shame to me with a child that is talented at things. (At 10 we knew dd was generically very sporty but we didn’t know this would happen.)

75% is still a massive proportion. It is about 23% nationally I think. If the school are offering your dd an academic scholarship then they are hardly expecting her to be in the bottom 25%.

School 1. The percentage of high grades does not indicate the likelihood of your daughter getting top grades. They're all obviously good schools. She's got lots of interests, and time spent travelling takes away from the time she has for hobbies.
She's happy at her current school, it costs less, the facilities are better, the top pupils get excellent results. What's wrong with it, other than a feeling that the grass might be very slightly greener a couple of fields away?