School Choice - Expert Opinion

[abc72]

Please may I ask the experienced bunch of parents about how do I find out which school specialises in which subjects? Is there a document showing what school specialises in what subject?

My son enjoys Maths, Science and Technology but not literacy that much (although he has good score in that too). He is exceptionally good with SPAG, but only the writing part is not his cup of tea. If the result next Friday gives a qualifying score of 121, which school would best suit my child - subjectwise - please? We live in MK - the only 3 options for us would be Royal Latin, Ayelesbury Grammar and Sir Henry Floyd.

We did visit all 3 schools, but when it has come to fill in the forms, I am unable to remember what specialisation each school was talking about... Really sorry...

Any input greatly appreciated please..

[hasmum]

Hi,
Have you checked the school websites, they normally say what their specialities are. Sorry don't know much about those schools though.

[Guest55]

Specialisms are no longer funded so the question can't be answered I'm afraid. All the three school teach everything and follow similar courses.

Historically I think
AGS had science and maths
RLS had science
SHFGS had performing arts, science, leadership

There are bigger differences in AGS is single gender and the other two are mixed. What are your son's other interests?

[Marylou]

FWIW I know of someone who left RLS to go to SHF for 6th form for Art! I hear they also have a good reputation for music and performing arts. RLS is generally considered to be good for science, but as G55 says all schools cover all subjects so I suppose it's a matter of checking out the websites and obtaining feedback from those with direct experience. From my own I can confirm that RLS is indeed excellent for science and is investing in a new science centre with state-of-the-art facilities. It is also very good for sport and languages. However, if I had a musically/dramatically inclined child and the choice of both, all other things being equal I would have another look at SHF (that's not to downplay those subjects at RLS which are very well provided for, with a superb extra-curricular theatrical production each year and some very active music groups).

[southbucks3]

Quick thing to confirm with Sally Anne first....how far does Aylesbury grammar go out? A few years ago it went as far as 15 miles, not sure recently though?

Wherever he goes he will have no escape ftom the dreaded English writing though, ds1 is the same, he has got much better recently...yr 9.

[Sally-Anne]

Quick thing yo confirm with Sally Anne first....how far does Aylesbury grammar go out? A few years ago it went as far as 15 miles, not sure recently though?

Stats viewable on Google Drive, my second post on this thread: http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 12&t=39009" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

16.735 miles as of 21st May 2014. MK and beyond.

[abc72]

Thank you all. Very helpful

[Marylou]

It's worth pointing out that the allocation for RLS doesn't usually go out as far as the allocation for the Aylesbury schools. It might reach MK if you're lucky but may well not cover the entire town, so it really depends where you live with the south-western part of course being favoured.

[southbucks3]

Don't forget it's straight line distance too....even if you would have to run a triathlon to get there that way.... Yes it's nonsense, but easier for the folk at the LA.

[ToadMum]

Don't forget it's straight line distance too....even if you would have to run a triathlon to get there that way.... Yes it's nonsense, but easier for the folk at the LA.

The alternative being the 'safe walking route' or whatever it's called, which is what our catchment comprehensive uses - or at least did at least as recently as DD's year. It could have changed but it was irrelevant for DS2, fortunately. When I saw in the following year's Admissions booklet that the last child admitted other than on appeal was a non-sibling living 2xxx metres from the school, I couldn't understand why DD hadn't been offered a place, but then I realised that it used a different measure of distance from all the other schools in the Borough.

Possibly a better measure where there are natural features to circumnavigate, though - like the Thames. In a very low birthrate year, I suppose one of our DC might qualify on straight line distance for a school in Medway, say, when the actual daily commute would be an 80-mile round trip by road or 2 and a half hours each way by train .

Since joining the Forum, though, I have learned that not everyone would necessarily allow their DC to be put off by this...