Excellent grammar or excellent comp Latymer Vs APS

[theyrewatchingmefall]

A wonderful problem to have but still a decision to make:

Grammar (Latymer), offer not confirmed but looks hopeful. Pros are excellent academic results, less strict. I think my lovely but geeky DS would find it easier to make friends as there may be more academic types (he's not at all sporty). But 40 minute commute by bus + walk, rough area, those friends could live miles away and extra curricular don't seem amazing. DS may miss being one of the smartest.

Comp (APS), def in catchment. Pros are 10 min walk away, great academic results (just not as good), extra curriculars look broad, local friends assuming DS makes some(!). DS would be prob be a top performer. But known for being strict and DS hates an arbitrary rule and the academics don't match the grammar.

For what it's worth DS and DH both favour the local school. I'm tempted by the more academic environment and think it's a big opportunity to walk away from. Thanks

Difficult one! Are you going to the Latymer offer holder day tomorrow? I think I'd be with you but ultimately if your ds isn't on board or at least persuadable then he's going to grumble about the commute the whole time and not give it his best shot, so the best thing would be if he decides for himself it's what he wants. Fwiw I know a couple of people who haven't been happy at APS, particularly with the SEN provision, if that's relevant, and the strictness too.

My DD is either going to Latymer or HBS but we didn't have the APS option. My older dd goes to a local school though and her heart really wasn't in the 11+. At the time I was really fine with that and thought the commute wouldn't be worth it but for dd2 I think it is because she's so geeky and made for grammar school really.

Personally I’d go for APS. Your clever DC will do well there and find their tribe I’m sure. Being close to home is wonderful and that journey to Latymer always looks a bit hairy to me. Great to
have local friends too.

Is it actually a decision now? You’d have applied for both via the CAF process, no?

If so then you’d get allocated your top choice (which I assume was down as grammar) if you make the numbers cut for it. You don’t get offered choices, just allocated one place.

So if you are offered Latymer and want the comp surely you’d need to try to go in the waiting list for that to choose to move over, which does rely on a place becoming available to you? Which can’t be guaranteed.

It probably would become available though, if he's within catchment as there's always some movement. Equally he might get APS and stay ok the waiting list for Latymer, and have a choice to make of offered a waiting list place.

You can’t really compare results of a selective vs non selective school. I know APS - it is true it’s strict and that SEN provision not great, but teaching generally good (esp STEM, heard less good things on some others eg languages), good clubs and other opportunities. And the commute to Latymer would massively put me off. Look also at GCSE options, Latymer has more limited choice.

I attended Latymer myself but these days I think I’d probably opt for APS; Latymer nowadays doesn’t quite offer the same holistic, well-rounded experience I enjoyed in the ‘90s, and I suspect you’d actually get a bit more breadth in terms of academic focus and extra-curriculars at APS. Plus the importance of local friends is not to be underestimated! APS is far from being your average comp, and their student outcomes are very impressive.

Have a look at their GCSE options. Round here, children at the grammar take 11 GCSEs. Triple science is compulsory, as is a language (which includes Latin, which isn't offered at most of the comps) and a humanity.
Children at our closest comp take 9 GCSEs. Double science is an option (although RE is compulsory as it's a church school). There's also a much wider choice of hands-on subjects such as drama, PE and hospitality. Kids can do Prince's Trust or Public Services instead of a GCSE.
One isn't better than the other, it's just different. The comp devotes eight hours a fortnight to Maths, which is great for a child who needs a bit of extra support, but could be boring for a brighter child. Some children thrive on the pressure of 11 GCSEs, others would do better with a bit of breathing space. And a geeky kid who loves Maths might prefer not to be forced to do a language and a humanity. I think this is the stuff you need to look at and discuss with your kid.

Where did you find out the spend per child info please?

My son goes to APS and we love it for him. Strict but warm- he feels liked and welcomed. He is not academic and is very sporty and I nearly did not choose it given how strong it is academically: I worried he would feel like the “dumb” kid but it is not like that. I think a very academic child would also thrive there. A couple of his friends go to Latymer and like it but they did not have the option of APS as well. As you say, nice problem to have! Good luck.

Apologies - I’ve asked mumsnet to delete the post as i think the data was wrong.
Financial data for schools is here:
https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/school/102055/spending-and-costs