Wwyd? Dh and I can't quite agree

[Marvelendgamekids]

Dd starts school in September. She's been offered our higher preference school. It's a church school which I like (I know others wouldn't but it's a plus for us) good ofsted, good results, our eldest went there (now left) as we lived in the area at the time, but it's 1.5 miles away. So a good 30 minutes walk, although as I work I'd be driving and using the wrap around childcare anyway a lot of the time, so only a 3 minute drive.

I'm having second thoughts, there is another school a 5 minute walk from our house. Ofsted and results haven't been very good at all recently, but, it's still a popular and nice local school, usually very oversubscribed. I could walk dd to/from school some mornings and afternoons which I've always wanted to do, and she might make more friends locally. Oh and the school do still have places.

Downside is if I was driving to go straight off to work, it's actually slightly awkward due to having to go all the way around a one way system and school being in the middle of a housing estate.

I'm really torn, dh thinks we should just let it be and stick with the church school, but equally he hasn't got a strong opinion and is happy to leave final decision it to me. Other people think I'm mad not to just send her to the closest school.

In the future, when your kid asks you why they aren't as educated as others, you can tell them it's because you were too lazy to take them 1.5m to school

Jesus Christ, 1.5m is nothing at all. Why would you consider a lesser school over 1.5m ffs???

It seems as though the better school also offers the most straightforward day-to-day routine with wraparound care and user-friendly route to work for you. Walking to do pick-up is an attractive thing but, unless it’s going to be something you can do most days, it doesn’t really outweigh the advantages of the other school.
I also agree with pp’s who said that leadership in schools is crucial. The ethos, standards and atmosphere at a school can change rapidly under a new head. That can be good or bad.

Is the head losing staff because they are implementing new and improved systems? And stuck-in-the-muds don't want to bow to the new system? When a new manager comes in there is always attrition in any workplace. It's up to you to decide if it is positive change. Can you get a meeting with the head and decide if the change is positive for this school?
Cause closer is always a bonus for work-life balance...

Let her walk the 1.5 miles to the preferred school. Her health will thank you for it.

I'd stick with your preference. If the school closer to you didn't exist, you wouldn't think twice about going to a school 1.5 miles away. I wouldn't send my child to the second school just out of convenience if your heart is saying that your first choice is the right one, even if there was nothing wrong with the second school.

I'm in awe of those with children doing a longer commute than many adults, I've been lucky that all the schools we wanted were within a couple of miles.

I absolutely love being a five minute walk from the primary school my children went/go to. Its brilliant if you've forgotten the class teddy or swimming kit or whatever, easy to pop back or if you arrive and everyone else is dressed as chimneysweeps and you forgot it's dressing up day I work from home so it's a piece of cake to pop in for assemblies etc.

Honestly at primary the main thing is they're happy and safe and enjoy learning. I'd be much pickier about results and Ofsteds etc for secondary.

Can you visit the nearer school to get the feel for it? If its undersubscribed you could even start with the one you picked and if the drive is a pain etc... you could switch.

Eliza9919 it's my belief that 'lesser' doesn't really apply to state primaries. Outstanding is often more prevalent in the leafy suburbs and less in more challenging areas so IMO doesn't relate strongly to teaching achievement. 1.5 miles is unlikely to be a wholly different catchment type, so what are you traveling for? Unless to avoid a totally dire school.

At secondary level, traveling is more doable and more justified IMO.

There’s an outstanding c if e school near me, many children live more than 1.5 miles from it. More like 4/5 or more. Their parents take them to church to get them in which is deemed more important than how close they live to the school.

‘Aren’t as educated’ good one.

As if Ofsted ratings should be your top consideration.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Mixed bag of responses.

Eliza it isn't to do with being lazy, I love walking, and as another poster suggested, we can cycle. Although obviously a lovely stroll round the corner is very pleasant with a young child.

What I found with eldest who went to the church school, was that once we moved, he missed out on year 6 walking home with friends. Also as others have said, although he still had lots of friends, by year 6 lots were knocking on for one another to play. He did miss out in that respect. However, eldest still had a great time there and I'm sure that dd would too.

I do think distance comes into it. If it was a good school 10 miles away or a slightly less good school 500 metres away, it would be a hard choice. But 1.5 miles is such a tiny distance, I wouldn't pick a worse school just for that.

My parents and in laws think that having local friends is as important as a better school in primary.

I must say I'm inclined to think that ofsted and results aren't terribly important at primary level, as long as the school is safe and the child is happy.

Go with the church school. If you were happy with it for your eldest then that’s more than enough reason to stick with it.

I agree, 1.5 miles is nothing. Dd’s primary school (small rural church school) wasn’t our nearest and 2+ miles away and I worked round the corner from home so it meant a round trip by car but she was so happy and the education was so good it was well worth it.

Nuno you're right too, 1.5 miles isn't that far, that's why I'm so torn.

My parents and in laws think that having local friends is as important as a better school in primary.

If the school is 1.5 miles away her friends will still be “local”.

I'd go back and visit them both again - make a list of the things that matter to you and then check against that.

Have s drive around the area at school going home time - see how many kids walk, see what the traffic is like.

I think you can learn from DS’s experience of not having your friends nearby and missing out on those experiences.

As I said, I’d check out the reception teacher(s) and check out the issues. See if it’ll all sort itself out, if so, go local.

As for lazy and ‘not as educated’ 🤨🤣

One and a half miles away? That is such a short distance. Thought you were going to say 5 miles!

'Church Schools' are always better too.

My reception aged DD walks that far to her school, passing two others that aren't as good on the way. She manages fine. I'd go for the better school.

Toss a coin, heads for local,,tails for church. Are you pleased/relieved or disappointed? If that doesnt work take 5 things you think important, religion, near home, good staff, teaching etc.does one school dominate? Rank items in order, five points for most important, one for least. Give each school points for each item, if no difference no score for either. Which one is top now? Have you looked round the schools?

My daughter's primary school is pretty close to our home, but local children go to the other school.

Your proximity to a school has no bearing on local friends at all. Her closest friends live at least 2 miles away (not terribly far but more than just nip around the corner).

I'd stick with the school you know. 1.5 miles is a perfectly good distance for walking or cycling and you already know the kind of ethos and teaching staff your youngest will encounter.

Otherwise consider what secondary you want your child to attend and whether either primary school acts as a natural feeder school (with planned transition days etc).

What does DD think about it?

Stick with the church school, you know what you are getting, has wraparound care you would like to use, and she will have the same opportunity to make friends.

I have been in the same position and chose the school in walking distance, then had to move DS out as it was rubbish (levels were dismal compared to previous and next school regardless of an Ofsted scoring it as good that had not been updated in many many years, and to make things worse he was badly bullied. So he didn’t get the local friends but we are now certainly surrounded by his former bullies. Yes, it is years from that but it is still not nice outside. I wish I had stuck with what I knew and avoided the nearest school.

Nuno you're right too, 1.5 miles isn't that far, that's why I'm so torn

That's why you shouldn't be torn! It's not enough distance to be a factor. So just go with the better school.

Before you do anything have you checked they have room?