Brand new school - any experience?

[Octoberrat]

One of the options we will have for our DD who will be entering reception in 2017 is a brand new school that hasn't been built yet.

They will be opening it to a full 2-class entry for 60 reception kids, plus 30 children in Y1 and Y2.

It will be operated by an academy.

I have a few "downsides" already in my mind - the classrooms won't be ready for the first year and they'll be in temporary accommodation. Plus there will only be a hard play area for the first year (no grass). Plus no much older children to mentor etc. I also imagine that there will be building work going on.

Would be interested in hearing from anyone who has either sent their child to a brand new school (what was good, what was a nasty surprise, if anything), or anyone who decided not to (why)?

Also, does anyone know that if you are in a grammar school area, do academies support 11+ etc (e.g. the same practice runs that county schools do)?

Lots of questions! Thanks.

[Whattodosue]

We did just that. Exactly the same set-up. It was (and is) fantastic. It is essentially a small infant school. The children all know each other and the head can get to know all the children. The teachers are generally really committed and up for the challenge of a new school they can help create. We had surprisingly few teething issues. Our school has always said it is a parent-teacher partnership so they are amazing at listening to concerns. We have been in temporary accommodation for 2 years, and all has been fine (it is nice in a little small now the school is growing). The parents are generally as committed to making the school great as the teachers and so all in all, it creates a great atmosphere.

[Octoberrat]

Thank you. Were yours in temporary classrooms for the first year? Did it cause any problems?

[ClaudiaWankleman]

We really don't have the weather for the availability of grass to be an issue. I went to primary school for 7 years that had no grass and I survived very happily.

[shakemysilliesout]

Same set up here. Very happy. All the kids know each other, the parents have all been very motivated as have the teachers. Building work has been ongoing but finally over. Any school could initiate a building project, ethos and staff are most important. Does the academy have any other branches?

[Octoberrat]

Yes re: other branches - it's operated by REACH2. None local enough for me to be able to find much out beyond their marketing.

Glad to hear of so many positive experiences with brand new schools. Did you have any positives or negatives with your DC being always the eldest in the school? (DD is September born.)

[smellyboot]

I have friends who did it and love it. The temp buildings don't matter as you'll hardly know the difference with modern mobile classrooms. The lack of grass is not an issue - hundreds of city schools have no grass, inc ours. If can be a great experience as far as I hear. The downside is no yr5/6 etc to look up to but we are a huge school, so contact with other years is limited anyway. Same in areas with separate infant and junior schools.
It's likely to be a great community of teachers and parents who want the best for the school

[SocksRock]

I spent 8 years at an inner city first/middle school with no grass, I really wouldn't let that be a big concern.