WWYD- to change schools or not.

[Fieldsoftripe9]

Currently my 2 DD's (y1 & R) both go to a school which is about 0.8m away and takes a good 35 min walk home. The school is outstanding and my eldest has only 22 children in her class, youngest has 28 in hers thanks to 2 bulge years. Eldest is settled and happy with class mates etc.

When we move this school will be around 0.9m away so will be roughly the same amount of time walking to/from. However 2 doors down from us will be another outstanding highly regarded school. I actually prefer this school just on its ethos and the nurturing vibe I get from it.

I'm not sure whether to go on the waiting list for the school next door to our new place once we have exchanged or not.

On one hand if we moved to the closest school I feel like the kids would have extra time in the mornings to sleep and longer to play after school (current school finishes at 3.20pm, school closest to us finishes at 3.05pm) and it's next door!

On the other hand the current school does have less children in my eldest daughters class and my daughter is settled.

What would you do? I keep changing my mind on whether to apply to the waiting list or not if our purchase goes through.

The difficulty will be if one gets a place and the other doesn't... could you cope with one at each school?

If it aint broke dont fix it

I would move. The ease of getting to & from home will make a massive difference to their days especially when they head in Yr 5 & 6 and can walk home themselves and when they start doing sports and after school activities (Brownies etc - half an hour more at home before going out again).

The issue will be if you can get one in and not the other...I know parents who have managed 2 different school runs but it's needed friends and family to help out.

It’s not a decision you can make until you know whether there are 2 places available there for your children. Find that out first

If you like new school I’d apply for places. You may not get 2 places which will probably help your decision. When they are yr5/6 they will be able to walk on their own if they move.

What if one gets in and the other doesn’t? If it seems pretty full already you could be into a loser.

Pop in and ask the office one day, they should know if there’s a wait list or not.

If no wait list, do it.

There’s a lot to be said for living very close to a school (mostly the extra time you get back and the not so soggy school runs)

How far is it from your current house? If they do have spaces now and waiting list they have to offer them, but you may risk the move falling through and it being less convenient.

I would move them even if it was one at a time. I've been in exactly this position as so glad I did, it meant their friends were local and as a pp said, they could walk to school. For me it just meant two different school rounds for a few months, it was worth it.

I would move them. Part of moving house is moving school. It will help them make friends local to where you live, take the pressure off transport etc.

What is your area situation - if its a different village you are moving to I wouldn't hesitate to move them. If it is a different part of the same town I can see your hesitation... where do the kids who live nearby go? If catchments mean that there are kids at the old school maybe things are different?

Why don't you see if the girls can have a visit day there and then see how they find it?

Are either of the schools a priority feeder for your preferred secondary? You really do have to think that far ahead.

All things being equal on education, I’d prefer to move them - it’s lovely when they’re Y5/6 living near to friends.