Already dreading the return to school and school run. There is a mum in dc's class who always talking badly about other mums and their kids behind their back. She can be super friendly and warm too when she wants something but dismissive and cold when she wants to put people in their place. She's managed to turn lots of the mums against a really lovely mum and her dc just because she doesn't like her.
The problem is that she has a habit of asking intrusive of personal questions on the school run either on the way to school or waiting by the gates. When people answer these questions in good faith she responds in a dismissive and condescending way. I think she's quite insecure and hyper competitive.
My question is how do I deflect these questions about my life. It's not like "how's work" or whatever normal small talk but digging deep and interrogating people about their husbands, work, children's school work and hobbies in front of the other mums. For example, ds1 is in Y7 in grammar school and this mum constantly asks questions about the eleven plus, did we tutor, how come he managed to get in, how grammar schools are not fair for others. She does this when we're dropping the kids off and i feel really put on the spot. There is something intense and aggressive in her tone.
How do I shut her up without being rude?