Single or three form entry primary school

[Hutt1979]

Looking for experiences of single or 3 form entry primary schools? I like both schools and in catchment for both. One is within walking distance the other a 5 minute drive.
Really struggling to decide
Thanks

Walking distance would do it for me if they are both decent schools.

But would also tend towards the 3 form entry - more opportunity for decent sports teams, plays, choirs etc. Also easier to escape from a challenging "friendship". They tend to mix up the classes at the end of the year, so gets the kids used to change before it really matters too.

How long a walk is the 5 minute drive one? Driving to school every day gets old very quickly. The parking is always awful. The road rage is insane. And it just adds to the pollution round schools.

My experience of a 3 form entry school is good points are there is lots going on and it can feel very vibrant. But if you have a child who doesnt cope brilliantly with noise it is a nightmare for them. At our school the classes don't always mix very well in the playground, everyone just seems to be friends with kids from their own class. So I'm not sure it's much more sociable. They don't mix the classes up every year in our school though.

I live a 10 minute drive from school- I have to allow 30mins for traffic, parking etc, plus getting children in and out of car. Unfortunately we live outside town and have no choice.

Walking distance is a lot calmer start to the day.

DD is in a 3 form entry in Reception. The school manages the numbers well, I think. The classes mix a bit during their free flow time and at lunches. She's very happy there.

A friend had a child at a local village school, very small, one class entry. It was extremely cliquey and a bit claustrophobic. She moved her child to the large school.

That said DD's school is walking distance and its bloody brilliant. All the driving parents look so stressed twice a day.

Walking distance is a big plus. Not just for the obvious but friends etc likely to be close too not just the school. I visit schools for my job and parking is usually a nightmare at pick up/drop off times.

My son goes to a 1 form entry school and there is a lovely family feel and everyone knows everyone. That said, I imagine a 3 form entry school might be better in terms of the less core stuff like languages, sport, trips, music and extra curricular activities, just because with more teachers on the staff there is likely to be a greater breadth of expertise?

My sons went to a 3 form entry. Lots of friends to choose from, usually means wide variety of abilities re sport so if you are good there are others who are, if you are rubbish there are others who are also rubbish.

At first we walked because we were 10 minutes away. Then we drove as we moved for a secondary school but I kept my sons in their original primary. Parking can be a massive pain in the arse. But I was willing to park a bit further away and walk 5 minutes. Far less stressful. And the children could use their scooters. But including a nursery at means 650+ pupils at the school.

Posititives -friendships, always someone to play with, easier transition to secondary and usually know a lot of children if there are 75+ children coming from the primary.

Negatives children can feel overwhelmed with the noise and sheer number of people. Never a whole school assembly with parents as the school hall is never big enough.

Definitely go for the walking distance one. Driving is awful, you have to set off earlier than you would need to to be able to park up, and even then you'll be miles away! We had the option of a 2 form or a 3 form, both walking distance. We felt the 3 form was a bit big and worried it could be a bit impersonal so went for 2 form.

Walking distance one for sure! When they are older they walk there and back on their own which is a huge win. Parking for school pick up/drop off his horrible!!

I prefer to walk to school, most neighbours drive it, but leave before me and get home after me (it’s about 3/4 of a mile). Good exercise for me and the kids to walk each day.
It wouldn’t bother me to have a small class size, some schools round me have a 15 child size limit and I think that’s lovely. It also wouldn’t bother me having mixed age classes in primary. I think I’d rather that than a three form entry tbh. It just seems so big for a primary school and I think it’s really nice for the older ones to mix with the younger ones and I don’t think there is much opportunity for that in a large school.

Ours is 2 form entry and the biggest in the area. It's wonderful, plenty of friendship groups, lots of after school activities and a lot more outdoor activities than any of the other schools

Single entry for me. Our local one is lovely, inclusive and family like.

I hope this isn't for entry in England in 20-21 as didn't applications close yesterday? A late application is considered after all on time applications...

I'd go for the one within walking distance.

Three form here. Love the school.

Walking distance. I walk, my neighnour drives to school. I set off 20 minutes later, and arrive home 5 minutes earlier.

Applications for Sept 2020 have closed, I believe.

Is everything else really exactly the same for both schools? If it really is I'd go for the walking distance one

I’d also go for walking distance over driving distance, although if it’s that you need to drive and drop off on way to work or similar (I know parents in this situation) then I guess that doesn’t count any more.

Re: school size - I don’t have experience of single form entry, but I do of two-form and three-form entry. I was really put off by the idea of a school as big as three-form entry and didn’t even view it when I was choosing for Reception entry. When things went to shit a bit for DS in Year 2 and I moved him, the obvious choice was this three form entry school I’d never even looked at - and it was great! It didn’t feel too big at all, was still a really inclusive welcoming feeling place, headteacher still clearly knew all the children individually etc. As others have said, the scale better facilitates specialist provision (DS is learning two languages in Year 3, they have a proper garden, forest school tomorrow teacher, better art facilities etc).

Neither school routinely moved children between classes at the end of the year just to shake things up, but they do where there are particular issues and obviously that’s not possible in a single form school.

Walking would be good, but I'm hoping you opted for the three-form entry - my DD went to a similar school and I think it helped with the transition to secondary. The secondary schools are huge round here (hers has nine forms in her year) so I think it helps if they go to a larger primary.

I like one firm entry. Our daughter isn’t great with noise and finds it overwhelming so she has settled in well to her one form entry school. Bonus that it is a couple of minutes walk away too so she can cycle and she enjoys the element instead of going in the car. Most of my friends children go to the three form entry schools locally and they love it: different schools suit different children I guess.

I think that class sizes and ethos are more important. Schools aren’t ideal environments for children at the best of times, they’re downright bad when children are forced to confirm for the sake of peace and quiet instead of being encouraged to reach their full potential and revidvibgbibdividual attention.