Hi, got to apply for primary school and can not decide between 2. Our original plan was to send dd to St Josephs RC Primary School as we lived in a catchment area for a really dodgy school (I know, I know - terrible and wrong, send to local school etc). Anyway, so we have sent her to the feeder nursery for the catholic primary school, so that she would know plenty of children already when she started. However we have just moved house and we are now in the catchment area for the local, excellent Westfield Infant School which is within walking distance. Both husband and I just don't know which route to take. Any opinions?
Here are some points we are considering about each school:
St Josephs RC Positive*
-'Good' ofsted.
-Easy to get to from home (short car journey)
-Everyone whose children I know who have been there have loved it.
-DD goes to the feeder nursery.
-School is feeder school to the best secondary in the town.
-Seems more racially mixed that most schools in this area.
-Stresses that there is a really caring emphasis / school ethos.
-Dds cousins already at school.
-Wouldn't have to change schools as it is infants & juniors.
-Uniform.
Negative
-I didn't like the feel of the school when I went round, it seemed daunting to me.
-Catholic school- although we are catholic we're not really proper practising catholics anymore. How confusing will this be? Surely its wrong to send one's child to a religious school when one isn't truly committed to that religion..? Although know plenty who have done this & children seem fine.
-Not walking distance.
-Not attractive outdoor space.
-September intake so dd will only be 4yrs 2mths.
-Seems very traditional in its approach (is this good or bad?)
-Crazy dinnerhall, have heard the little ones sometimes struggle with it as its so noisey etc.
Westfield Infants (reception - yr 2)
Positive
-'Outstanding' Ofsted
-Very nice friendly feel to the school,does not seem at all daunting.I really liked it.
-Appears very relaxed approach compared to St Josephs more tradional style.
-Walking distance of home
-Never heard a bad word about it.
-2 intakes so dd will be 4yrs 6mths.
-Lovely outdoor space
Negative
-Dd wouldn't be going with all the children she knows.
-Most of the other children at her nursery will go to school in September as they will go to St Josephs (including her cousin) whereas she would stay there for another 4 months if we took this route.
-Will have to change in schools to go to junior school (walking distance too); local one is fine but possibly not as good as St Josephs ('Satisfactory' Ofsted).
-This route is not the one to the 'best secondary' in town (which is Catholic) most of the children who go to this school go on to another secondary (good but not as good).
-No uniform.
-Very white middle class, not culturally / racilly mixed at all.
(Am aware that things can change with regards to the secondary schools, probably thinking too far ahead there.)
Do we continue down the route we've started, or go really local? Can't work out why I didn't like St Josephs when I first went round - have been back twice, feel abit better but still...??? I don't know...tense... maybe??? So much consider, how do I make that choice, can't think straight anymore. Need some opinions. Thanks in advance. x
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Help! Which Primary School??? (Very long, sorry)
13 replies
walkingprimrose · 22/11/2008 01:06
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