Help! How do I choose a school?!

[Nuvanewname]

I know I need to be in the catchment areas. I know I should be looking at ofsted reports and results they get.

What if they get great results but not so great ofsted reports or vice versa? What's more important?

My child is 2, but 3 very soon, so I think I need to apply this year to start next year because this time next year they'll be 3 almost 4? Seems too soon to me!

I'm so lost with it all.

The two schools within 5 mins of me- 1 is a religious school so won't get in as we don't go to church... I think? And from what I have seen from the children passing, I don't like it at all. They don't get average results and ofsted.

The other has quite bad results and average ofsted.

There are, I think, 3 more schools within a 10ish min walk. They're much better, but don't know if I'll be in the catchment. How do you even find out if you're in a catchment area?

There's a much better school, that we may be able to get into, but they're temporarily (but for a couple of years) having the younger ones in another building that's about 30mins away on the bus.

God. I thought choosing a nursery was hard!

Some councils put previous years admissions data online if schools are oversubscribed such as the furthest distance from school a child was, how many siblings etc. It can give you an idea of your chances.

I don’t think SATS results and Ofsted give the full picture and would base a decision on those alone. The best thing to do is visit on the primary school’s open days, wander around and speak to the head/staff showing you around. Speak to other parents at the park etc with school age children to get their views.

My kids have been to a total of 4 different primaries due to house moves. The one with the “worst” SATS results was my favourite. My youngest are at a school that was rated “requires improvement” where the pastoral care, support for my sons disability, and academic results are really good. One child ended up alone at a very well thought of primary (which I thought was a bit snobby) good OFSTED, fabulous results, which then ended up being completely terrible on all fronts within a couple of years.

It’s best to find out where you are most likely to be offered a place, then visit those schools and make a decision based on not just the data, but how you felt the school would suit your child.

I think you might be applying too soon, children start school the school year in which they turn 5?

Apologies if I have misunderstood your OP

Catchments don't change size where I live, they are fixed, but the distance of last offer varies and can be inside the fixed catchment area for popular schools, so that's worth checking.

Pop your postcode into www.schoolcatchment.co.uk/ to see the local schools and their rough distances from your address. Cross reference against your councils admissions information as not always accurate (e.g a local faith school measures distance from church to house, not school). This will give you an idea of where's realistic for you to look at.

Go on visits - you will get a feeling about a school. Before you go, think critically about what you value in a setting. Nurturing and child led versus highly scheduled and pushing them to be the best? What about food, staffing, outside space, trips, frequency of parental reports.... that helps to hone your gut so to speak!

Are you looking to apply for reception or nursery places? If your child is 3 on or before 31/8/19 then they can start school nursery this September. Each school has their own admissions policy which can be radically different to their reception policy, and attending nursery CANNOT influence reception places in state schools

So your child will be 4 in April (say) 2020, so will start school in Sept 2020, is that right? So you'll be able to apply for schools as of November this year, with the application needing to be submitted by mid-January 2020. You will then find out in April 2020 which school you have been allocated.
Schools normally start open days around October.

We visited 7 primaries in a week! Gave us a very real feel for them. We took DS1 and their treatment of him spoke volumes. We are at an out of catchment academy and keeping all fingers and toes crossed that when we apply DS2 will get in (DS1 will be in the juniors so no sibling preference). We didn’t even list our catchment school because we were so unimpressed but I know we could only do that because we were willing to consider a private school if we didn’t get any of our three choices.

you should be able to download a pack from your council's website detailing all the primary schools and their admission criteria. In our area it's furthest distance (after looked-after children, siblings and specific needs) which is a moveable feast.

We looked around about 7 schools - both in our area and further away as we contemplated moving. All were 'good' or 'outstanding' but we really disliked one of the outstanding ones, so it will be personal preference.

No advice but just wanted to say you aren’t alone. I took one look at school admissions systems in the UK and my head exploded. It’s obscenely over complicated.

Visit them all. Pick the school where the kids are happiest.

Children are under so much stress and so much pressure I would completely ignore sats results (they really have no relevance on the kids lifes whatsoever), take Ofsted with a linch of salt, and just pick the school with the vibe that I believe my kids would be happiest in. Happy kids thrive best imo.

Thank you all. This is all really helpful. It's definitely given me more to think about, but I think it'll be much easier to choose now. I have a better idea of what I am looking for in a school too.

Really, thank you all so much, I really appreciate the great advice given on here.

Over on the Primary Schools board you may well find people who are familiar with the schools in your area.

Sorry, it’s actually called Primary Education, but the link works!