Hi my son turned 3 last week, he is a sociable child who has a wide circle of friends both at nursery and at home. I have recently started thinking about what school to send him too even though I have 2 years to decide as he is a September baby and will be almost 5 when he starts. There is a lovely new school a 5 minute walk from us which seems to offer good facilities and has had a good inspection report and another school about a mile and a half away which has also has a good inspection report and similiar facilities. However all his 8/9 friends are going to the school that is over a mile and a half away even though some of them live much nearer to the first school what I think is putting them off is that the school I am considering for my son is Catholic ( my son has been christened Catholic) and I can understand that this can make people wary. I am really confused as to which school to send my son to as I am worried if I send him to the nearest school then he will be without his friends and will miss out (the mothers of these children are also my close friends) but it will be a 5 mile round trip every day (there and back) and as I am expecting another child it will be hard work to get him there every day. I drive and maybe this should help me make the decision but I know constant short journeys wont do my car/petrol consumption any good. Should I put my sons friendships first or the convienience of having a nice school just minutes away. I know I have 2 years to decide and his friendship may change in that time but I will have to put his name down sooner rather that later and I cant decide.