To be pissed at people fleeing our nice primary towards the trendy free school round the corner?

[FiveRingsForDinner]

I bet they're bitching about us as much as we're bitching about them.

How old are you all?

Aren't state primaries free where you are?

5 and 7. Why?

Which school is this?

You should be pleased - it keeps the class sizes low!

Free school as in not run by the local authority I think

Oh! Christ, I'm dim. To be fair, I don't think we have those in the Valleys!

who cares? Let them go and wear blazers and learn Latin in a 'chav' free zone,innit?

No, how old are YOU? The 'parents'? Bitching about each others choices?

It's a bit sad to see the polarising social mix. From my first DC at the school to my youngest, it's been a noticeable middle class exodus. Of course the little firstborns with motivated parents will do well & re-enforce their parents (& future parents) choice. But my kids are also doing great with lovely teachers & a popular head - albeit we do enrichment rather than homework, and I'm a bit sad that my DS is complaining that no one in his class has nice manners. And I'm pissed to think that the leavers will be bad-mouthing our school.

It seems pretty clear to me that the parents are leaving your school because they feel the other school will do a better job. So you're wailing on them because they're trying to do the best for their children.

I don't think a more clear definition of 'unreasonable' could be found.

YABU. They want the best for thier children and have decided that the free school would be the best. Presumably they will each have their own reasons for changing. If the teachers and head at your school are good, it should make little or no difference to your own children's success.

Sorry, I may be a bit thick but I don't get your last post.

What do you mean by the first borns reinforcing their parents and future parents choice?

The bit about enrichment rather than homework?

And your son's comment about no-one in his class having nice manners?

That was an odd post! Can you explain?

She means all the naice kids are going to the free school

How good is your school??

is it Ofsted 'outstanding' or 'good' - if just satisfactory I can see why some would take a punt at a new school.

If the new school has amazing new facilities I can also see why some might choose it.

Free schools are a great idea! They give you more choice as a parent. Just because you choose to keep your kids in the local primary it is unreasonable to resent those parents who choose to send their kids to the free school.

Why don't you talk to them and ask why they have made their decision?

Our school is 'good' - with grapevine reputation of strong pastoral care and refusal to get drawn into SATs coaching. Large Asian population, being a non-denominational school.

Are you indeed pissed? Sorry, couldn't resist but alcohol could explain the uninhibited hostility.

YANBU, there's no reason to think their reasons for thinking this is 'best for their children' are particularly honourable, and if this free school is siphoning off one sector of your school's intake then that's obviously going to have an effect.

Fucking free schools, the work of the devil!

Surely it's the personal decision of each family if they choose to move schools and none of your business? I wouldn't be 'pissed at them,' maybe a bit annoyed if you feel your choice for your child is being judged, but to actually be angry at people who you don't even know for moving their child/ren to another school?

YABU

And I'm pissed to think that the leavers will be bad-mouthing our school.

So you are just getting in their first by bad-mouthing them and their school.

Grow up.

I'm not expressing any opinion IRL! But I can grumble inside - of course it will impact my younger dc school experience to have this kind of polarisation.

Re: my 'firstborns' comment - the first intake of the school is heavily drawn from the founding families - ie eldest children of super-motivated families. It isn't a tough crowd to teach, and will flatter the school. My firstborn from a motivated family will also do super well - but obviously the average attainment in her class is lower. But the skew will add pressure on the next generation of families to choose towards the free school.