Help needed with school options

[Aethelreada]

I need your help getting my head straight about schools. We have two to chose between and both have advantages. its making my head spin a bit to be honest!

I have to apply soon for my 3 year old to start YR in September next year. Our oldest child is in a school ten miles away and will be starting Y3 (Juniors) at the same time. We need to decide which school to send both children to.

When we applied to our oldest childs current school we lived in a different area and chose the school based on size (its small) and our child's temperment (shy, reserved, bright). However, the school is not doing well at stretching academically and we have had complains of boredom. As it is small it has a great sence of community and is friendly, but the small budget means the facilities are not as good.

Our catchment school is good (according to Ofsted) and having looked around I was very impressed with the facilities (new) and the atmosphere. I had that instinctive feel good response that is so important. It is also in walking distance. However, it is large, five times as many pupils.

Our decicion is do we keep our older child at the current school and have the younger go there as well, or change the older thus taking away from friends and have them both at the local school.

Maybe we shouldnt rock the boat as they would both be happy at the smaller school, but on the other hand I think the local school looks better academically and for sports and opportunities. Its hard for shy people to make friends tho, they they are important too. O dear.

[redskyatnight]

I'm a big believer in going to your "local" school (do you really want to commit to going to a school 10 miles way for the next 7 years?) so I would send both children to the local school.

Y3 is a time when I think friends swap about anyway, so hopefully your older child will fit in ok (and if it is a large school they may well shuffle the children about anyway).