To be sick of my aunt pontificating about schools.

[OafOrForksAche]

PFB DD will be going to school September 2015 and I've been thinking about schools for a long time.

We have 5 schools in our vicinity in distance order:

1. The CofE primary school I went to where I was severely bullied and she'll be going over my dead body (0.6miles). Does shit in Ofsted reports (I know that's not always a true reflection of the place)
2. A small non denominational primary school that accepts able bodied and disabled children and has lots of funding for this. Has a Good Ofsted rating. about 0.6miles away.
3. A 3 class per year non denominational primary school which has had an outstanding Oftsted rating and is known to be fantastic. It's 1.1 miles away.
4. A 2 class per year non denomination primary school which also has an ofsted rating. It's always over subscribed and is 0.9 miles away.
5. The local catholic primary school. I don't know much about it.

We are planning to apply to schools no3 (we've contacted them about their catchment area and also looked on the LEA website about the intake numbers for all these schools and there's a good chance we will get in hopefully) and no2 as well. We've seen them both and like them a lot.

We are a multi denomination family and have no decided about Christening as I have lost my faith since my mum died and my DH is not religious at all.

Anyway.

My aunt works at the local crappy high school in admin and seems to think she's the world authority on education (well, in fact on everything). When she's asked about our plans and we've told her she's been very vocal about school no2. She says it smells constantly because the school has disabled kids and the able bodied kids get ignored.

I don't believe this statement one bit from our research and also speaking to work colleagues who have children in that school. It drives me mad every time we see her she booms on about how stupid we are to even consider school no2 and tbh her comments are offensive.

I'm hopeful that DD gets into school no3. But if she gets into no2 then I would not be upset at all. I would be glad she will mix with children of all abilities and she will have early exposure that not everyone is the same. And the class sizes are smaller (I think it's not as popular probably because the people where I live can be quite prejudiced) so that's good too.

WIBU to want to tell my aunt to stop being such an offensive twat?

I've just realised I've listed them not in distance order. Oops!

Preview before post Oaf, preview before posting...

Personally I'd go for number 2. Number 3 wouldn't appeal to me at all, I dislike huge primary schools and 3 classes per year is massive.

The dc's primary has around 180 pupils total, it's a lovely community feel which I think is important.

Does your DD have any disability that would make school 2 a practical choice?
If not , I'd go for 2 or 3.
I live nearer to a Faith School than any other , but I wouldn't send my DC because we aren't of a Faith.

A school that has the facilities and funding for children with disabilities - I'd have thought the priority would be to offer those places to children who need them.
You are quite close to 5 schools, you do have choice.

And ignore your Aunt (would your DD be in catchment for her school when she's Secondary?)

She says the school smells because of the disabled children? How old is she, FFS, ten? I'd jsut give her the Mrs Brown 'That's nice, Auntie', and tell her how pleased you are with the school you've been allocated.

Also a bit confused over the able bodied/disabled distinction.

Don't most primary schools accept non-able bodied dc, unless there are other specific needs for some sort of special school? Is it just chance that there is a higher proportion of non-able bodied kids?

Have you visited all of the schools? I would advise visiting your top 3 initially and seeing what you think. I didn't choose the school for my DD that I liked best on paper, it just didn't feel right when I looked round.

That's obviously how they got their Outstanding Ofsted rating, by ignoring the non-disabled children:(

Your aunt sounds nasty tbh, visit the school if you are concerned if not I wouldn't listen to a word she said.

Mine go to a three form entry primary and it's lovely, teachers are brilliant and headmaster knows all the children. Smaller schools can be lovely too but I'm happy with my children's larger school and so is everyone else, that's why there's a waiting list.

YANBU and btw there is nothing wrong with a three form entry school. I went to one and it had great facilities and a community feel. We had a better orchestra and choir than my secondary school, and a swimming pool, athletics tracks and tennis courts. The little schools I am looking at for my dd can't compete in terms of sports and arts facilities.

Nope DD has no disability.

I don't think it's like a specific school for those with physical disabilities it just has top notch facilities to cater for those with them so more go there? I'm not sure the exact distinction of it.

I'm not afraid of sending her to a 3 form entry, DD is a bright little thing and does well in groups etc. I think she'll adapt to wherever she is sent.

I am worried we live too far away from no3 to get in.

Yes we live in the catchment area for my aunt's school. That will not be the case when it comes to sending DD to secondary school!