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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Pros/Cons of Grammar/High Achieving Comprehensive

45 replies

babyboo1and2 · 25/10/2008 19:20

have to state preferences for mon to local autority

local comp is a hell hole

ds is bright and have also had him tutored so he wasnt at a disadvantage compared with the others

cant decide which to put first on CAF grammar or a high achieving comp which we arent in the catchment for but which reserves places for out of catchment (based on entrance test)

grammar is further away (40 min train)and single sex, intake of 120

HA comp is nearer (20 min train)and mixed sex, sets in all subjects, intake of nearly 300

of course all this may be of no concern as son may not get in at all as competition is so fierce but assuming he does well....

just trying to make the right choice for ds

any advice, wise words from experience etc etc welcome

OP posts:

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:34

If I had a choice between sending my dd to the comp I teach in and the grammar I would send her to the grammar, it would be the same if I had a son as well.

Original poster

babyboo1and2 · 25/10/2008 23:37

twinset - is that because you work there or for another reason?

OP posts:

lilolilmanchester · 25/10/2008 23:40

I have issues with travelling.... DD could apply to a comp outside our area (and comp would be best option for her, all else being equal) , but we haven't put it on our list because she'd be on a bus an hour before she'd leave home for local schools and would be exempt from after school activities because bus leaves at the end of the school day and we both work.

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:41

Because it is a bloody good school, has a really special atmosphere that I have never come across. The pupils feel proud to be there and really strong on extra curriculr activities and trips abroad.

wessexghoul · 25/10/2008 23:44

I'm surprised, twinset, I've heard your school is very good.

Friends of mine are thinking of putting their daughter (now 7) in for the 12+ at the Poole grammars - I think they're mad; it's hard enough to get in if you live in Poole.

Will you put dd in then? Are things a bit dodgy at the local comp atm?

lilolilmanchester · 25/10/2008 23:45

twinset, they are hugely compelling reasons, sounds like a fab school.

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:48

I am in no doubt that my dd (also 7) would get a grammar place if we lived in Poole. But we are looking into moving to get dd into the school I teach in, the grammar is not even entering our heads.

Wondering how you know where I teach?

The Blandford School is our local comp and I do not want dd going there.

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:50

Sorry my post was wrong, I would end dd to the school I teach in and not the grammar. Now your surprised comment makes sense. As I said above if we can get dd in to my school we will not even conisder a grammar. All the wonderful things I said apply to the comp in which I teach.

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:51

grrr send dd to the school I teach at. A fair number of parents choose us over the grammar every year.

wessexghoul · 25/10/2008 23:52

Ah, yes, now it makes sense.

Similarly for us, we would go for the local comp (TH in Dorch) rather than the grammars any time.

(Not a stalker, just a Dorset bod who has followed your posts .)

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:54

TH is a very very good school, the school we bitch about so see it as our rival in terms of results. TH gets more A*s than us. Is TH not hard to get into, we have also considered moving to Dorchester to get dd into TH.

twinsetofcocks · 25/10/2008 23:55

I would choose my school over a private school as well and not just for political reasons. I would rather send her to my school and spend the money on lots of trips.

Original poster

babyboo1and2 · 25/10/2008 23:56

lilo - your position sounds like ours

nothing seems easy at times

and found out trains would cost £200 per month

hey ho!

OP posts:

wessexghoul · 26/10/2008 00:00

TH is brilliant; my only beef is its hugeness. All the same, you do seem to have to be in (large) catchment to get in.

findtheriver · 26/10/2008 10:46

Difficult decision, grammar v HA comp. However, single sex would be a negative for me.

bagsforlife · 26/10/2008 11:41

I have three children. Two boys, one girl. Two older ones now at university. Youngest Year 8. All went to/go to grammar schools. We also have excellent comprehensive locally.

It may sound strange but the best thing about the grammar school is not particularly the academic angle. I think if you have a good comprehensive and bright children, they will achieve the same grades at GCSE or whatever in the end.

But what you get with the grammar school here is a much smaller school, no bullying, no 'growing up' too quickly, that sort of thing, no peer pressure not to work hard, no mucking about. They obviously have a degree of misbehaviour, but nowhere near as much disruption as at larger schools, IMO. Even though it is known as an academic 'hothouse' I felt they were/are actually under less pressure than at the comp as they do not have to struggle to stay in the top sets. They are all more or less at the same level ( apart from a few 'professional swots'as I like to call them). Once they are in, they are in, although there is another competition for the 6th form now. They actually liked going to school and were happy, which counts for a lot.

My DCs contemporaries all got more or less the same results at GCES at the excellent comprehensive as they did. Comprehensives do many more different subjects at GCSE. My DCs HAD to take all academic subjects (no media studies, cookery etc) so if you do want to take that sort of subject at GSCE then forget grammar schools. Ditto at A level. But I am sure you know that already.

The travelling will be tiring no doubt but they will get used to it. Can also serve as useful time to do homework etc esp if on a train!

Original poster

babyboo1and2 · 26/10/2008 21:41

bags for life - thanks for taking the time for the lengthy reply

i agree about getting the same results at gcse at grammar/good comp

i think it is all those other things you mention that is swaying me towards grammar esp the smaller number of pupils

not growing up too quickly is something i hadnt considered, ds is one of youngest in his year group and appears 'young' at times when compared to some of his friends/family

also good point re pressure to stay within top sets at the comp

were the grammars your children attended single sex, if so did you feel there were any negatives to it?

findtheriver - the single sex issue does seem to be a slight sticking point for my dh too,

OP posts:

bagsforlife · 27/10/2008 09:19

There are two different grammar schools involved in my story!

My daughter went to an all girls grammar school first (didn't get into the mixed one at 11) and then went to the mixed grammar school that my boys attend/attended in the sixth form.

I have to say, in retrospect, she didn't particularly like the all girls' school but she loved the mixed one, as did my boys. But I think that is girls for you. I think an all boys grammar school is fine, all girls not so sure (but you still get the academic outlook and smaller size etc), I personally think boys are good altogether, (sweeping generalisation coming up) can do sport, aren't competing with 'clever, hardworking' girls, and would have been happy for my boys to go to the all boys grammar school.

However, they passed to go to the mixed grammar school (which is also nearer, daughter had to travel 10 miles) so they went there and both also absolutely love/loved it. The girls do have civilising effect on them too. And the boys are forced to work(!) but have all the sport etc as well, proper teams that sort of thing.

My middle boy is particularly lazy and I really think he just would not have done the work to keep in the top sets at a comprehensive. He had a lovely time at school, but really did the bare minimum of work for his GCSES. If you have a self motivated child, it is fine and they would probably achieve as well and probably better results than a lazy boy at a grammar school (as did some of his friends who didn't pass for the grammar school). So it is down to personality too.

Hope this helps. This is all very personal to my children, but they are all quite different personalities really. I know what a dilemma it is!

KM1 · 27/10/2008 13:13

Hi babyboo1and2

I'm in Essex as well and my dd has just started at a girls grammar. She is loving it and not finding the single sex thing an issue as they have already had a disco with the boys school and been over there for an activity afternoon. There is also a lot of mixing before and after school but no distractions in lessons! If your ds has to travel, then from what I understand there is a lot of socialising on the bus and so he will be spending plenty of time with girls then.

Original poster

babyboo1and2 · 27/10/2008 17:45

Thanks for the replies KM1 and bagsforlife

we asked ds which he preferred single sex or mixed and he asked "if I go to a boys school how where will i find a girlfirend?" so we said all his other out of school activiites might provide him will some possibilities should he/they wish to which he shrugged his shoulders and said "will i dont mind then" - perhaps dh and i are putting too much thought into all this!

the schools did mention how travelling provides an opportunity for building friendships but hadnt linked this to nearby girls schools, thanks

well online form completed and dont feel as much in a dither as recently so i take this to mean i am happy with the order of preferences we have stated, this time tomorrow i cant do anything about it and wil just have to wait for the results come march (fingers crossed!)

thanks everyone

OP posts:

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