So the deadline is looming in 14 hours, and I still can't decide between two schools for DC3 to start reception in September!
We're choosing between School A and School B, both faith schools within the same parish. For background, DC1 spent his first two years at School A some years ago, but had to leave after DC2 couldn't get a place. DC1 and 2 ended up at School C, 2.5 miles away. DC1 is now at secondary and DC2 in year 5, and whilst I really like School C, I'm utterly fed up with having to drive and battle traffic, problems with being "out of area" for friends and clubs, so it's not an option for DC3.
School A is about 15 mins walk, probably the closest school that we can get a place at (out of all schools), nice school with very good reputation and KS2 results etc, usually very popular (partly school snobbery I think - in a very MC area). Friends will live locally, DC3 will probably also know some children from her (local) preschool starting there. On the downside - the Head has changed since DC1 was there and I didn't particularly warm to her on the open day but she seemed OK. Lots of homework.
School B is 1.5 miles away, we could walk it at a push but it would take 30 mins+ so won't happen regularly. In a much more socially mixed area, this doesn't matter in itself, but prob explains why it's not been as oversubscribed historically. Loved the school at the open day, headteacher seemed great and very approachable. KS2 results etc v good. Downside is driving every day and having friends who will live over the other side of the parish, which can be problematic with traffic etc.
Both schools are good and both are named feeders into DC1's secondary school. I'm torn because DH and I preferred School B at the open day, as against a dread of repeating the last 5 years of having to drive and having friends and activities all based out of our area at difficult times of day and evening while I'm juggling three DCs (heart vs head). An added complication is that DC2 has been on the in-year waiting list for School A (various reasons) for a while, and a place has now become available - although the school won't tell us whether she is top of the waiting list or not, and we won't know by tonight (whole other thread there!). I don't know if this should affect our decision or if we should very the two DCs entirely separately!!
Sorry for essay - thanks for reading 
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Help! Need to choose primary school today - can't decide!
WeBuiltThePyramids · 15/01/2016 10:11
we get 3 choices 99percentchocolate but because of the faith-based admissions criteria we're likely to get offered whichever school we put first I know, we're lucky. The other school will go second.
For our third choice we're weighing up our very closest school which last year only made offers to children within 0.25 miles (we're not) or a brand new school. We might actually end up tossing a coin on that one 
I've gone with A. Application submitted, big sigh of relief.
I still love School B but when there's a perfectly good school less than half a mile away it's a no-brainer really. I have hated having to drive every day for the last five years.
Admissions committee are meeting this week about the place in DC2's year. She is one of two waiting, so keep your fingers crossed
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