But I Smile Anyway…

  
No, not a big decision concerning me, but more for Lil Man this time!

We’ve been through the whole 11+ shebang… and as you know, he didn’t take it. It wasn’t for him, and I feel that was the best decision him.

Now it’s that next step. Secondary school application time! Oh My Goodness! When did he become old enough that we now are applying for secondary school places for him??!!

Now, it’s a minefield out there. There are great schools, some close, some not. There are Ofsted reports to read, opinions to gather, from people whos children attend the schools, to the kids themselves, along with the thoughts of more ‘in the know’ professionals… I get that perk being a teacher, I can get more honest opinions from heads and teachers I know!

We have been advised to go to the open days, not only for the schools we are interested in, but also those that we are not planning on applying to, as you may get a different feeling once you are there, and more importantly, what is your opinion, may not be that of your child, who ultimately is the one who will be going there.

I have at least 4 open days in the next 9 days for us to attend. And I think I’m more nervous than Lil Man is!!! The deadline for the forms is still over a month away, but still, I’m petrified that I will muck something up! 

Added to the application forms, certain schools have additional forms that need filling in too, like your faith schools, or those that have an allowance for talented children in certain subjects. Didn’t I say this is complex?! 

I’ve been checking out the websites of schools. Printing forms and researching dates. The mind boggles!

This one decision could affect his whole life! I sincerely hope he gets the place we decide is the first choice, but the rest is in God’s hands, I guess…

  
Oh, and sitting there going over these things, I didn’t get to do the work I had hoped to do, for school. But at least it isn’t urgent!