Choosing a school based on commute, AuDHD, and being a bad sleeper

[School123Choices]

Is it unreasonable to select a specific secondary school, i.e place it first in our order of preferences solely on it having the shortest commute time?

My daughter was previously a LAC, and so we can select our preferred school. We have narrowed it down to one of these three, different but we understand similar quality schools:

Besides each school is the total commute time, i.e. door to door, all commutes have been extensively trialled, so we know our preferred mode of transport and transition points for each one.

Camden School for Girls - 35 minutes (including 5 minutes on Overground)

St Marylebone CE - 39 minutes (including 27 minutes on bus)

Grey Coat Hospital - 50 minutes (including 14 minutes on tube)

Daughter struggles massively with sleep, suspected AuDHD might be contributing factor. Getting to sleep is difficult, once she's asleep, she then sleeps very deeply, which makes waking up the next morning really tough. Coupled with her executive functioning which oftentimes is a bit lot awry, having a short commute might possibly make mistakes less likely - I'm not sure.

If all else is equal, with regards how much daughter likes the schools, quality of subjects and opportunities offered; is selecting one of these schools purely based on quality/ duration of commute a rational and justifiable response to my daughter's sleep and AuDHD troubles? Nb. Sleep troubles are being investigated and tackled, but cannot guarantee success at this point.

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As an aside, do you know these schools? Are there any reasons we should actively avoid or actively choose one of these, based on daughter's suspected AuDHD?

We don't have an EHCP, we know that without an EHCP in place, support will be practically non-existent at most secondary schools, but is there anything else we as outsiders should be aware of about these three schools whilst making these decisions?

Thanks so much for anyone who has read this far.

If everything else is equal, I don’t think it be would terrible to use the length of journey as a deciding factor in conjunction with the schools’ start times. However, is everything else truly equal? As you say, they are different schools and for many of one would suit their DD better than the others.

Hi @2x4greenbrick ,

I think because of how the AuDHD presents in my daughter she is quite neutral about most things. She can see the pros and minuses of each option. She knows that unless we have an EHCP the amount of support she can be offered will be limited to just extra time in exams, and possibly following her Pupil Passport which she brings with her from Primary School.

I hear conflicting information about the SEN provision in each school, and when speaking with girls on the school tours, they all said that they see that some of their peers receive additional support and that they all seem happy, but obviously this is just third hand info. The only SEN teacher I was able to speak with during this while process has been the SEN lead at St Marylebone, and she was excellent. But obviously, she could leave at any time.

I don't really understand how to read the grades and outcome stats for children with SEN. I know that in general the schools get great outcomes for their children, but as I say, I'm unsure how to read the .gov.uk reports to better understand how children identified with SEN fare.

Do you know much about that side of things?

I would also consider how difficult the journeys are. When things don’t quite go to plan as well as the ideal journeys.

The government’s performance data doesn’t include a filter to only look at the performance data of those with SEN. You could ask the schools. However, I would be cautious when comparing them. SEN cohorts can vary widely. Plus, academics are only part of the picture.

Even without an EHCP, the school must make reasonable adjustments and must make their best endeavours to meet DD’s SEN. This will extend beyond only exam access arrangements. DD's pupil passport will need amending for secondary. But you are right in thinking the support will be more limited than if DD had an EHCP. The school should also still support DD being a PLAC and DD will still get PP+. Have you considered requesting an EHCNA?

I know parents whose DC were/are happy with your first and last choice but I also know some who haven’t been happy with both. I am not local to you and don’t know much about St Marylebone it is just info from supporting others.

If everything is equal, it would be very unreasonable to choose a school with a longer commute. I personally would even choose a good enough school with a short commute over a better school with a long commute. As a parent you'll also need to be able to get there during the day, whether that's to pick up if they get ill, for performances, matches and of course to meet teachers etc. Our closest state school with 6 form provision is 55 minutes away by walking plus 2 bus rides and I would give everything for a closer option (it's not as if they can leave 55min before school starts, and be home 55min after school ends, the way the few buses go they need 90 min to get there and 90 min to get home including waiting for the bus, now often in the rain and cold). It tires them out and takes away 3 hours revision/sleep/rest time a day. By the time they are home it's 6pm and they have to leave the house at 6.30am. And it's expensive on top. It also means it's even harder for them to meet up with friends or do any clubs and hobbies that are not school based.