Primary Schools - Big school vs Small multi-year school.

[WaltzingWaters]

Just after some opinions and experiences of the advantages and disadvantages of a small school with multiple year groups per class, or a big school with 30 per class.

My DS starts school next September and unfortunately we’ll have to drive wherever he goes, but the two favourites we’ve seen are complete opposites. One is tiny with only 3 classes between reception through year 6 (R, 1, 2 together, 3&4, 5&6) and even then the classes are small with about 15 students per class.
The other has a class per year group with around 30 students per class.

My DS is fairly shy and doesn’t like loud noises (nothing extreme and he does well as preschool) but I think the small class would be good for him. But I do worry it’ll be a huge transition when he goes up to secondary school (I know that’s ages away and lots could change!).

I grew up in a populated area with huge schools so have no experience with a small school, so if anyone could share their experiences I’d really appreciate it.

The main issue is the small pool to choose friends from at the multi year school. He could (for instance) be 1 of 2 boys his own age. On the other hand he'll probably socialise with a broader mix of kids as a result, but it's a risk. Which is nearer? I know you said you have to drive regardless, but imagine doing that drive to meet with friends or drop them home - is one better than the other? For me, the social potential is top as you as you like both schools.

DS didn't like loud noises when he was little (used to put his hands over his ears), at 10 he was diagnosed with ASD. On that basis I'd go for the smaller school. Small classes are much better IMO for kids with sensory issues/possible ASD even though I don't think R/1/2 mixes are ideal because the difference in work are so big.

I think the move to secondary school is a shock from any school and confidence and resilience will be more important than whether he's been in a class of 30 or 15. DS went from a school of 90 to a school of 1500.

I worked in a primary school with only two classes. There are advantages to small schools but the disadvantages are huge. What if your child doesn't like the teacher they are going to have for the next 3 or 4 years?
What if their best friends are in the year above so that in Year 6 they have no one, or even worse they are the only boy/girl in a year group?
I've seen it happen and it was a horrendous time for the pupil who had no friends of their own sex in both the final year and the year below. They were totally isolated despite all efforts to help them.
I'd always go for the larger school. New teacher every year (generally) , a larger 'pool' of friends and social activities.

The smaller one is a 5 minute drive and the other a 7 minute drive - so not much in it. Both pretty much in the same area. Both terrible for parking but that’s the same with any of them around here (village life).

given the choice I'd go for the larger one. I know kids who've gone to very small village primary schools and they've done ok but I agree with the points @tamedcomicpoem makes, particularly around poor teachers or ones they don't like. Small classes or year groups can sometimes be very boy or girl heavy, I know one girl who's the only one in her year group, and opportunities like school sports teams can be lacking as they play those by age group. Also, if you've got a younger child there's a risk they could end up in the same class at some point.

With falling birth rates is there a chance the small one will close - is it in a village with another school that might merge for example?

Personally I’d never choose a small school like that, but children are all different, and you’ll have got a feed for it walking round as well. Your gut feeling when you were there is importantly.

Lots of unknowns with the small school

Balance of boys to girls. Matters more as they get older. Age split - is each year pretty equal? Being one of 2 Reception kids in a class with 10 year 2s and 3 year 1s could be intimidating. Don’t forget the potential upset when year 2s leave the class next year.

If ds has a problem with a child then everybody knowing his business vs everybody at the school being a potential friend regardless of age

Bigger pool of potential friends. If the boys in his class are say football mad while he is not then it will be tough socially. At a bigger school, there’s more chance of someone else sharing an interest.

Him feeling intimidated by the physically bigger kids in y2. They may be louder because they are more confident vs they could play with him and he’d feel more confident and happy.

Being stuck with a teacher for 3/4 years vs being lucky to have the same teacher for 3/4 years

Numbers falling so that the school shuts down or merges

Secondary being tough but you could move him to big school in year 3 in preparation.

Ime 30 isn’t very big and just right, especially if there’s more amenities, clubs, trips etc

Thank you very much everyone for your input. The general consensus seems to be that the bigger one will be better overall. Shame as I loved the smaller one!
But yes, very valid points regarding how many boys and girls will be there and their interests etc.

Crikey, I'm surprised this is even a debate!

the "bigger" school of one form of 30 kids is much more suitable - one form entries are still small; there aren't many of them!

re the smaller school, would you be happy having your 4 year old learning along side a 7 year old? And vice versa? And your year 5 child having to prepare for secondary school for 2 years? (Provided they'll do that if they're mixed)

what if he's the only boy his age in the class? He might not establish a proper friendship group if kids keep moving classes all the time

smaller schools might also not have additional resources in place to help children who are struggling. So consider that. And like I say, a one form entry is still small 🙂

Also, if you need wrap around care you might find the choices are more limited in a smaller scbool
so consider that.

My kids went to a small school with between 10 and 15 kids per year, and yes, whilst there we some disadvantages we also saw huge positives:

• all the staff and the HT knew them by name
• there were more opportunities to work with different year groups to stretch or support
• smaller classes meant more personal attention from the teacher
• a smaller pool of kids meant more opportunities to take part in plays and sports teams as they got older
• a really lovely feeling of being at the heart of our small village community with plenty of outside space (though I guess a larger school could have had that too)

Both have before and afterschool clubs as well as lots of opportunities for various activities so that isn’t an issue. But as people have suggested, I did worry about the possibility of it maybe having to close down if birth rates continue to drop.