Scholarship

[Oma]

Josh has been offered a football Scholarship to a sports academy in September but he's not sure he wants to take it , at 11 he wants to go to secondary school with his friends , The school he wants to go to and has a place at is 10 minutes up the road and also a sports academy but not as focused on Football , The sports academy he has been approached by is a good 30 minutes away and will focus on his football more , we all feel at 11 it's a big decision for a child to make ,DD and SIL will stand by what he wants but would prefer he didn't go as DD said this is just one opportunity if it's meant to be he will get more and be more mature so can decide then , we had a chat with him and he said he thinks he will pick his local school as he knows his education is just as important .
It's an amazing offer we all know that but want him to be happy in his choice

[Gemini]

It's a big achievement and an honour for Josh to have this offer Oma!
A big decision too, at 11.
I think the local school is probably the best choice. As his mum and dad say, there is time later to persue his football if that is his path. As he is a clever boy, I think he's wise to consider his education. Some who are good at sports aren't academic, so the choice is an easier one for them.

[Oma]

your right Gem , we have always told him his education is just as important , I think he knows what school he will choose but wants to think about it for a while they have to go to a meeting in late April with the academy by then I think his mind will be made up

[Daisy]

Oma - as Gem says, it's an honour to be offered a place at the sports academy and a reflection of how good he is, but as you say, he's also academically good - the best of both worlds. But that could make the choice harder for Josh. My advice to students (who were a good few years older than Josh) was usually to try and keep their options open for as long as possible. If he carries on playing football at secondary school I bet he will be in the school's first team so will still get to play at a good level, and there are summer coaching camps and all sorts of other opportunities. And he will be with his friends and still able to take advantage of the academic opportunities in his local school.

My big worry if he chooses the sports academy would be that (heaven forbid) just one bad injury could put paid to his football ambitions and then he would wish he'd gone to the local school with his friends.

But, as you say, Oma, he's a sensible lad and the fact that he wants to think about it for a while shows he's not going to make a decision lightly. Good luck with whatever he chooses.

[Oma]

Your right Daisy also we talked about if he doesn't like it his place in his local school will have been taken so he would have to go on a waiting list till a place became available .

[Daisy]

You're right, Oma - and if that did happen, he might have to wait quite a while to get a place and all that time he'd be feeling unsettled.

[Shemadee]

A great achievement and a big decision at such a young age. Sure with his talent there will be other opportunities!

[Nanto2girls]

Decisions decisions. It's an honour for Josh to be offered the scholarship. Maybe the local school would be best. Good luck to him,whichever he decides.