please help - need to make a decision if to take a place in a different school

[printer11]

my DD1 is in year 2 and the school ( School) is outstanding in all areas (Ofsted report "1" in everything Leadership, Teaching, BEhaviour etc). The logistics ( the school is about 3.5 miles away, in a different borough) is very complicated... we managing but feel a lot of pressure. Now the DS2 started nursery in a different school ( 5 min from our house ...did not want to make the same mistake as with DD1). A school (School 2 - faith school) which is about 2.00 miles away phoned us that they have space. the logistics would be slightly easier ( more options with buses compare to the first school). Also other cons: more clubs after school ( my DD1 loves them), it is in our borough so close to the swimming pool where she takes lessons. the main mental block that I have is the fact that the School 2 is "good" so 2 in Ofsted report, I think their attainment in KS2 are slightly lower compare to School 1. I feel really bad that perhaps I would me moving her from "outstanding" school to "good"...from the school which has better results to a school with slightly lower results...She is happy in School1 - have firends, but we do not socialise with mums/ friends much out of school because it is not in our borough and it feels a mission to organise playdates etc. please help me with your opinions... thank you.

[ReallyTired]

I think you should try to get both your daughters at the same schools perfectly 5 minutes from your house. Changing school is disruptive and would it be an option to wait for a place at the nearest school? If your youngest gets a reception place then your oldest should get sibling priority.

[DesertorDessert]

Really has a very good point, but are you sure being in nursery will make any difference to getting a reception place? It was about criteria 7 when we applied.

IMO, outstanding schools are good at paperwork. Good schools are outstanding at teaching. Have you visited all three schools? And see what your gut, not Ofsted, says about each?

[printer11]

Thank you. I am sure we get a place for DS2 for reception ( it is a faith school, plus we live 5 min walking distance). Waiting for a place in this school is a good idea, but we have been now waiting for 2 years and some people left there but the school did not take any new pupils because they had 32 in a class...now I think theoy are 30...I would have to check how far we are on a waiting list. The gut feeling - I feel more "at home" with the School 2 because it is in our borough - we go to the same church as the children in that school go to, we go to the park which is near the school...BUT in terms of behaviour - when I visited School 2 I think it was not as good as School 1 but not sure if I can make a judgement in 10 min...

[ReallyTired]

Next year your daughter will be in juniors and the class size restrictions are less strict. Having a sibling in the school would make it easier to win an appeal. A sibling in reception would put you to the top of the waiting list. In your position I would hold out for the school you want. Changing school is disruptive.

[mummytime]

Aim for having them both in the same school. Take Ofsted with a pinch of salt, a lot of it nowadays is more about the quality of paperwork and SATs grades, than anything else.
Sometimes what looks like "great" behaviour is just quiet and sitting down. Whereas noise and moving around can mean more learning is going on.
SATs are heavily influenced by things other than teaching: mobility of the population, the levels children start school at, how welcoming of SEN the school is etc.
Seeing friends outside school is a good thing.

[knaffedoff]

Is the school close to home a primary? If not she would need to move to junior s next year so I wouldn't move, to move again .