...to be unable to choose a school??

[QueenofKelsingra]

Ok, so I'm posting here for traffic. Just after people's gut reactions. Trying to choose between 2 primary schools for DS1 (we also have DTs to follow him in 2 years time). Which would you choose based on the following main points:

School 1

Walking distance
he's at the on site pre-school
separate class for each year group
swimming pool on site
190 pupils in school
27-32 pupils in each class
non-teaching head (who is also away a lot doing Ofsted training)
male/female/young/older teachers
Ofsted Good
more 'common sense' option

School 2

2 miles by car (no pavements so have to drive)
no pre-school
R has own class, then mixed yr 1/2, 3/4, 5/6
80 pupils in school
R class has 9 pupils, mixed classes 18-24
teaching head
mostly female teachers and all older.
Ofsted Outstanding
is an academy
curriculum set up and content looked better

gut reactions just based on these facts please!

I'd go 1! Walking distance trumps virtually everything in my book.

I would say school 1 definitely.

Walking distance is great - think about going to school and back twice a day, then after school clubs, discos, fairs and any other reason you have to go there. Closer is better.

More children isn't automatically a bad thing. What if they don't get on with one or two their age? Fewer children to play with/make friends with.

A mix of teachers is great, particularly if they're younger - the kids get enthused by them and their ideas.

Don't just go on ofsted ratings, the second school may concentrate on getting outstanding by ignoring other things iyswim?

I'd say 1 too.

I'd also say you should look at your realistic chances of getting into either school (based on previous years). That may affect your choices.

I think it depends of the personality of your child. If I had a sensitive child who easily fell into the background I'd choose school 2 but otherwise I'd choose school 1.

And when was outstanding one's last inspection? Might be that it would be downgraded now.

My top three criteria for primary were a) near, b) near and c) near.

It's brilliant being able to walk to school especially when they get to age they can do it alone. I'd only go to one that required a drive if the nearer one were truly terrible.

School 1 without a doult. Being with friends and in walking distance is a massive bonus.

Infact you may not have the option of school 2 if it is OFSTED "Outstanding".

1
it is a single form entry school, so although it is bigger than the other it isn't huge, the kids will pretty much all know each other and teachers know the kids.
but walking distance beats it every time, it is lovely to be round the corner from school.

I am a bit mistrustful of the idea that small schools are better. We removed ours from small village school as ds had only one boy his age and they weren't friends. No football club, not enough children to make a team, class trips/swimming etc difficult because of the cost of coaches. Fewer facilities, no-one on staff was musical, so school music was poor (just so few teachers, cannot cover all the specialities) One teacher I though was poor would have had ds for 3 years due to mixed classes.

We would get into either. we are only 1 street away from school 1 and school 2 is undersubscribed.

to add, my main sticking points I think are:

people pay thousands to get their kids into private schools for the small class sizes and I could have this for free. but 30+ kids seems like a huge number for one teacher to ensure they all get the right support and attention. but I worry for my DTs ability to make individual friends if they were 2 out of a class of 9!!

I also preferred the head at school 2 - I like that she teaches and is focused on the school, not disappearing to train to be an Ofsted inspector. the kids were much more relaxed around school 2's head.

1 a small class isn't always a plus. Less potential friends what if he doesn't click with any of them.

Walking distance is fab, snow covered roads and traffic are bloody frustrating even short distances.

I would choose school 1 due to the on site pre school, walking distance and single year group classes. I had a child in mixed year group classes and they ended up repeating stuff a lot, although your school might manage that better.
The age of the teachers and the swimming pool and irrelevant anomalies, a good teacher can be any age.

Number 1....it sounds great and don't underestimate the benefits of being in walking distance. If you choose number 2 and your car broke down or was in the garage what would you do?

Most people paying for small classes wouldn't choose mixed year groups though.

farewell it was back on 2009 that it was graded outstanding. School 1 has been inspected this term and given Good.

good point norude

Nothing about School 2 trumps School 1; I wouldn't like such a small school, either.

interesting so many said 1 because of the walking distance - I was sat here thinking 'I cant choose his school based on my own convenience of walking'!

It isn't just your own convenience it's nice for kids to get out and walk to school, much nicer than faffining about with parking and car seats.

Hard as it is, try to choose a school for your potential 10-year-old rather than your cute tiny 3-4 year old. Time and again, I see parents choose a tiny nurturing cosy environment because they're terrified of sending their baby off to school.

Then they quickly outgrow it...

And anyway 190 is really small. I prefer somewhere bigger still.

And the ofsted is four years old so I don't think you can let that be a factor.

Your convenience is massively importance. But it's theirs too as no child likes being stuck in a car and far from friends.

Sorry, X post...
I don't know if Academies are somehow different; I keep hearing that an outstanding school is likely to be told that they MUST expand and so class sizes will increase. I wouldn't choose a school solely on the expectation of that criterion staying stable.

Totally depends on your child.

We chose your equivalent of School 2 because DD is quiet and shy and her pre-school head advised that she would get completely lost/overlooked in School 1.

The only difference is that School 2 went from 'Outstanding' to 'Good' the term before DD joined, but that wasn't relevant to the choice we made anyway so weren't particularly bothered.

farewell that is an interesting way to look at it (bit like the imagine your baby as an MD when picking babynames!) and actually quite helpful. He's an outgoing little boy so I'm not worried about the larger school in a 'oh my little baby' way, just worried if he will get enough 1:1 attention.

it is the biggest school within 10 miles so no bigger options!!

My dd's school has nearly five hundred children in. You be surprised, but children cope well with being in a larger school. I think 190 sounds perfect. There are enough children to provide decent clubs, but its small enough for the head to know everyone.

It is nice if children can walk to school in years 5 and 6.

But why not? I mean he can walk himself or with a friend when he's a bit older which is great fir independence and confidence. And it's a good school.

Also bear in mind that fewer children = less money = less resources.
I remember the head at DC's previous school saying he needed 26 children in a class to break even. I'd be concerned about a small school cutting corners to make ends meet (or equally asking parents for constant "voluntary" donations).