The Student Room Group

Is a grammar school really better than a ‘normal school?’

This is in terms of sixth form life/ education.
I moved to a new grammar school in September and honestly the classes are great but I’ve only made ‘classroom friends’ and a couple friends I can study with in some frees. However, I have no ‘real friends’ that I can go out to have lunch with/ even eat with. This has lead me to feel extremely miserable in school and has demotivated me to even study.

At my old normal sixth form, the Ofstead reports it as ‘requires improvement/ good’ but a lot of my friends are there who are also high achievers and care about their education. I would feel a lot more comfortable around them but then again there’s that ‘get out of your comfort zone’ quote that lingers in my mind.

My parents are adamant that I stay in the Granmar, and we’ve had many arguments after I even bring up my old school and the idea of going back. My grammar has a couple extra ‘quirks’ that look good on a personal statement too, but my old school is pretty much the same.
I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to stay and risk being unhappy and ultimately lose all motivation, but I don’t want to leave and regret not staying.
Reply 1
So I was a first child and my mum was ADAMANT I attended a grammar school. The education was great but generally I wasn’t happy. I talk to no one who I went to school with 7-11 but moved to a diff grammar for sixth form and am still very good friends with them.
My mum now has my sister who isn’t the most academic at a standard state school, she does more creative GCSEs whereas I was pushed to do very academic subjects. Honestly my sister is doing really well at the standard state school because she wants to learn and do well. I find with standard state schools if you want to learn then the teachers are very willing to do so, but they don’t have time to try and teach people that can’t be bothered so the learning is much more in your own hands!

The other way highly selective schools could differ is their knowledge with uni applications, grammar schools pride themselves on their ability to get students into highly competitive courses at the top universities. Sixth form is very short term and a chance to focus on yourself, of course do not ruin your mental health in the process but you’ll have a new start at uni anyway :smile:
Reply 2
Same struggle here! Got the offer from a Grammar School Sixth Form with much better A Level results in compare with my old comprehensive state school, but I was happier in my old school & felt more comfortable there.
Will the school really make a big difference to my A Level results? Or it more depends on how diligent I’m?

Quick Reply