Hi,
This is a big subject but I think what you also need to throw into a complex personal equation like this is what your children are like and what they would in particular get from this that you can not do yourself.
I like to think that education for kids is two pronged: parents and school. I can't teach academic subjects though I could do a good job of some. Similarly I don't have expectations of schools teaching personal skilss and creativity and all the other skills they should learn from being part of society.
My children went to state schools which are quite good at both but knowing that as parents we would have the right combination of skills to reinforce school and add to it in other ways if it was lacking.
One of the hardest things to teach as a parent is the things you can't or would be frightened to do, school and paying others to give your children those extra experiences can be a way out of that.
At the end of the day it is important that they have the right environment at school and home to achieve the most that they can. We, especially in this country, strangulate ourselves with endless striving for the perfect education yet show me someone who didn't learn by getting something wrong? They have to learn for themselves so give them opportunities, love and support adn they should do it themselves - and that will (imo) last long after school?
In short Steiner schools are more rounded than others and have a good reputation but (imo) no school is a panacea solution to your childrens future.
Hope these thoughts are not too opinionated and you find them useful to do the sums!
best wishes,
Shay
Dark fire
Every child is different and girls and boys will learn differently too. Personalising education is important for every child but find out as much as you can before you make that final decision. I moved mine from a traditional school for my first 2 to put them into a progressive forward thinking school. They ended up later on both having no interest in education and my second son needing remedial support for english because of the progressive individual teaching methods. My next 2 went to prep school which I paid for and they learnt quickly and both are far more confident learners all round although maybe other life skills are less developed.
Its swings and round abouts but I regret moving my boys.............
One thing to consider is if the school is about an hour away then your kids closest friends will not be near to play with at weekends. I initially made the same mistake of sending my eldest to a really good school in another town and as time went by she drifted away from the local kids and spent more time on msn chatting to her friends from school in the other town. I became concerned about the amount of time she was spending on the pc so I limited her to an hour a night, but then she just sat watching TV. When I asked why she didn't go out she said she was like an outsider and felt uncomfortable hanging with old friends from her junior school. I pulled her out after one year and sent her to a more local school. My anxieties were unfounded about the standards as she got A's and B's.
Ok that’s the only sensible post you'll get this year.
and bravo to markz............. :thumbup:
It sounds as though your daughter is very bright in certain areas at least and therefore that makes your decision harder than just what school is best for her. In most cases it is important as for underachieving children to be in main stream educational systems but there are exceptions, of course.
In that respect perhaps you have to look at her level of development physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. If everything is really moving faster than normal then you need a different approach altogether. If she is just excelling in certain areas then schooling needs to be balanced differently and whilst a school may be found to support her strengths don't forget the weaknesses need working on too in case they just haven't appeared on the radar yet?
It's difficult to guess because we do not know her. My best idea is to look at this as a triangle of parent, school and classmates/peers at the three corners. Each of the corners has an influence on the child in the middle. Making lists of the pros and cons at each corner helps evaluate the decision rather than whorl it round in your head with your anxieties and other emotions. Make a different triangle for each school, "parents" (may read family here) stay the same and peers may change.
By the time you write it all down you may have evaluated objectively and subjectively how you feel about the alternatives and can first, presumably, make the best decision for her and secondly, for yourself and what you want her to achieve. You can then also make decisions about bolting on educational and experience bits and pieces to fill any gaps.
It will still be an imperfect answer because you can not predict her future nor the influence any direction will have on your daughters development. (Let alone any other external influences)
The one remaining fact is that your daughter has a caring parent who provides what she can - good and bad because no parent gets it right all the time. That generates trust and as you are still one of the biggest educational influences on her regardless of what school does or not do. So you have done most of it already! The rest is just building on what you have done already! All experiences good and bad will be good education and preparation for what is to come in the outside world as long as that support and mentoring is continued during the education process..
Waffled too much (on this subject close to my heart) just do the best and work it through with her, as I can not see you failing even if you change schools halfway!.
best wishes,
Shay
) 
I think! hence why I'm asking! :lol:
