Can't decide between two schools

[Sofia2011]

My little one is at a primary nursery in a really good area the school has over seven hundred pupils and is rated as outstanding by ofstead. We were living by the school until July when we had to move due to the landlord wanting to sell the property we were living in. The area we have moved to is not a bad area but I don't love it either, but for the time being it will do as we get real good value for money with regards to the property we are renting. So here's my dilemma please help as its driving me mad! do I continue to keep my daughter in this school and commute thirty minutes each way for the next seven years plus. I have a highly stressful job so every morning will be a rush or put her in the local primary that is small with only 190 pupils but is warm and nurturing. The school has had mixed reviews and I have been told that it takes a lot of kids that were expelled from other schools. However I loved it when i visited and it has a good rating and being told to improve by ofstead in 2012. The school is by a estate that is quiet rough which is a little bit off putting. My question is do you think I should go with the local or further a field primary. And would the commute be excessive do you think and tiring and is it worth it? Would she lose out by going to a smaller school? Also we will move and buy a house when we can afford to but the area where we were living before is too expensive so it's likely to be an area near by where we are now.

[DuelingFanjo]

Are you sure you will get a place at the school if you are 30 minutes drive away! Where I am, being in the nursery of a school out of your catchment doesn't in any way guarantee a place in the school.

[Sofia2011]

Well I phoned up and they said they serve a large catchment area amd everyone who applied last year was given a place so we stand a god chance.

[Sofia2011]

Good chance

[bakingtins]

Agree with fanjo not a chance of getting into an outstanding school from that distance away.
Do you have other options close by? Your local primary sounds fine, gut feel is important and I think small-ish is an advantage.

[bakingtins]

But 'large catchment area' for a primary often means a mile radius! Find out how far away the furthest person who got a place last year lives. Do you think there are fewer than a hundred children living closer who will apply?
Whatever you decide to do, make sure the closest school is one of your choices if it's even vaguely acceptable to you, if you miss out on your three choices you can be offered a place anywhere, and if the council offer you one place they have fulfilled their obligation to you.

[BikeRunSki]

Isn't the 30 min drive away the school the dd was in before the OP moved? The commute bring from the new house to the old school?

[clary]

I just wrote a long post which has vanished! Basically agree with others, you may well not get a place, how far away is it?

Also commute may take longer at 8.30am and be a pain for out of school events and assemblies etc. Also DD will never walk to school by herself - a big step to independence round my way ie in yr 6.

Local school sounds nice - you loved it - and 190 is not tiny.

[bakingtins]

She's in the attached nursery, she'll have to apply for a reception place using the new address. In our area at least, being in the nursery or pre-school doesn't give you any priority when applying for reception.

[clary]

Ah, my first post is on yr other thread OP

[Sofia2011]

The school said people further a field than we are got in last year so think she stands a good chance.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

So it has an outstanding Ofsted but isn't particularly popular? It's rare that outstanding schools aren't oversubscribed. It sounds enormous, 100 per year group, so bigger than 3 form entry? If it's not oversubscribed next year, you will get a place.

190 isn't a small school, by any means. It's actually an average sized primary at one form entry. Personally, I'd go for the local school. She'll make local friends, so will you and that 30 minute commute sounds a nightmare.