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Secondary education

How do I choose between these schools??

13 replies

WindinTheWillow · 07/12/2009 13:14

DS has the option of two very good secondary schools.

One is the local comp. One of the best in the city, catchment area, short bus ride away, highly regarded school.

Second is the best school in the city. Top exam results, very strict, hard to get into, extremely highly regarded. It's an all - boys military style school. Everyone with a son in this city who cares about results tries to get their kid in this school but out of 300 applicants, only 30 get in!

Here are the pro's and cons of each.

School A : Down to earth, "normal" school. Children from all walks of life will attend from the posh detached, double garage 6 bedroom house estate up the road to the local council estate. Exams results are good, school has great international links so lots of opportunity to go abroad, excellent sports facilities (it has it's own sports centre with dance halls, gym, football pitches, tennis etc etc!) lots of after school/lunch clubs. It will only take him 15 minutes to get there. It has girls.

cons: Known to have suffered with bullying, results not as good as school b. There will be a fair number of "challenging" children here.

School B: excellent results, very strict. All boys.

Cons: Doesn't have the links school a has, doesn't have any sports facilities (the kids have to go to the local college for their pe lessons). The school building is ancient. I've heard that if a child struggles academically here, the staff are not very sympathetic.

I know school A sounds much better but I can't help feeling we'd be silly to turn down a place at school B. Some people would chop off their right arm to get into school B, it seems daft to turn down a place? DS would definately benefit from the discipline too. He thrives on it.

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ajandjjmum · 07/12/2009 13:16

When you walk into both schools, what does your heart say?

Sorry - know that may not help - but ds didn't go to the most academic option available, but his school was so 'right' for him.

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bruffin · 07/12/2009 13:22

How do you get into school B, is it catchment or selection?

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GrimmaTheNome · 07/12/2009 13:26

Will your DS meet girls socially out of school?(DH went to an all-boys school and reckoned it was a bad thing... though obviously IMO he survived OK

What does your son think - the second option sounds like somewhere you'd love or hate.

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WindinTheWillow · 07/12/2009 13:28

School B is selective.

I really liked School a and so did DS.

School B had a very "authoritive" feel about it but also a very close knit atmosphere. As it's such a small school, the boys all seem to know each other. The class sizes are much smaller and it's a lot quieter and less 'hectic'.

School a has all the hustle and bustle of a busy secondary school but it's also very relaxed and friendly.

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Sparks · 07/12/2009 13:54

Can you imagine your ds being happy at the school? Would he blossom in that environment?

What are the kids like at the school? Do you want your ds to be like them?

'Some people would chop off their right arm' isn't a good reason for deciding anything IMO.

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Hullygully · 07/12/2009 13:59

A

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Metella · 07/12/2009 14:03

When you say "B" is the best schol are you judging it on academic results alone?

"A" sounds great and your "cons" are no more than would be expected in any school.

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snorkie · 07/12/2009 15:05

What does your ds think about it? What is his personalty type (outgoing/shy/academic etc). How long would he take each day travelling to/from school B?

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grumpyskater · 07/12/2009 15:15

The only pro you suggest for B is 'excellent results'. But obviously it'll get excellent results if selects 'top' 10% academically.

I assume B is a realistic possibility, ie your DS is academically able. But your DS may well do as well at school A.

Oh - looks like for you and DS the military/ discipline thing at B would also be a pro. But the list of pros you give for school A would make me jump for school A every time.

As someone else has said, if it's just that 'everyone with a son in this city who cares about results' would choose school B - (which I doubt very much, as it would clearly not be an appropriate place for many less able children, whose parents care about results - and their child!). You need to work out what you and your DS feel intinctively would be a good place for him; forget about what 'everyone else' thinks.

Neither option is wrong, and neither would be perfect. Do talk to parents who have sons at both schools already. Good luck

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snorkie · 07/12/2009 15:57

I'd say the pros of smaller class sizes & smaller school where everyone knows each other with a quieter less hectic environment might suit a child who was quite timid or maybe be better for one that you felt would be easily led in the wrong company, but otherwise school A sounds better.

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amothersplaceisinthewrong · 10/12/2009 18:07

School B sounds (to me) horrible - focuses purely on results. No sports facitlities? Very suss - could this be because they don't rate sport, only academic success. Sounds far too pressurised.

School A sounds much more rounded. And if your son is academically able he will be in top sets and do just as well. Plus stands a chance of having a good time too.

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Tizzyjacko · 10/12/2009 19:42

A

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Earlybird · 10/12/2009 19:52

Do you know any parents/children at either school? Have a frank pro/con talk with them. Always good to get an 'insider's' view.

My friend works in admissions at one of the most prestigious universities. She thinks state school children who satisfy admissions criteria often do better than private students because they haven't been coddled. They've had to overcome some less-than-ideal situations (possibly makes them more resilient), figured some things out on their own (which makes them more resourceful), and are often more independent.

Academics aren't all.

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