Regretting school choice

[Loveskin2024]

Anyone else regret school choice?

We were very lucky and got our first choice for daughters primary school place (I know some who are very stressed as they didn’t get first choice). But now I’m thinking I’ve made a huge mistake and picked the wrong school. I’m lying awake a night worrying.

We went with the big two form entry school. It’s got great facilities, we liked the teachers.

Our second choice was a lovely little school, originally our first choice until we saw the big one.

I’m now regretting the first choice, is it too big & will my daughter be overwhelmed with all the children? (60 kids per year)

Sounds like everyone has a positive experience with larger schools. I went to a small school and there was always the one girl in charge, she also was favoured by teachers )but that’s a separate issue).

with any bullying issues, would the child bullying be moved to a different class or the child being bullied?

It’s not as strong as “bullying” but primary aged girls are all learning about friendships so when things aren’t going well it’s great if your child has other friendship options. My poor family member was trapped for 7 years with only two other girls in her year at a tiny village school one of the girls was extremely disturbed and took this out on my family member who was basically stuck with her. For 7 years.

I'll admit it was a blanket statement, but I did say 'I'm convinced that' so it's fairly clear it's just my opinion. People can agree or not as they see fit. I'm just trying to reassure the OP that having gone for the larger school was not a mistake, for all the reasons cited above. I didn't suggest that children from small schools are not well-rounded or confident; I just happen to believe that socially you have more chance of finding your tribe in a larger setting.

I changed my mind from my first choice, a one-form entry to a two-form entry and have never regretted it (even when it became a three-form entry)

Ps changing my mind was actually easy, I just joined the waiting list and waited for a space. This happened quickly as I was in catchment. But even when you aren’t, spaces come up around now as people accept or reject schools.