To not send child to a school just because it’s close

[CCW14]

i will be starting to look for a primary school soon for DS to start Reception next Sept. We have a primary school that is round the corner from us, less than a minute walk which DH says we should send DS to because its close, but even though it is ofsted rated Good, whenever I speak to other parents or the local Fb group, they all say ‘It’s fine’ or ‘It’s okay’. Isn’t that code for its not great but I don’t want to be rude? They also still have spaces for this september and have been advertising a lot that they have spaces open, where other schools all had theirs spaces filled

We have another school that is well recommended and about 15mins walk away so will probably put that as my first preference, but was thinking of putting a school that we would have to drive to as a second preference as they also seem highly recommended and have a good after school programme

Ds is very curious, loves learning and I have been told by nursery and others that he is very smart. I think we should send him to a better school as education takes priority over convenience, and I don’t want him to get bored at school if he is learning stuff he already knows. DH thinks convenience takes priority and primary school won’t make much difference

I will obviously visit all schools and have a look but think it’s quite hard to judge on an open day as everyone is on their best behaviour. And I know just because I put a school down, it doesn’t guarantee I will get a spot.

so what do you think?

YABU - Husband is right! Make your life easier and send him to the closer school
YANBU - Primary school is the foundation of learning and will have an impact on later education

I wanted mine in their own community, with their friends around them. It was great for meeting other parents, walking to and from, great for them to walk with others and by Y6 without an adult.

That worked here, it might not for you.

Are all the schools in catchment, if not and you don't get a place at them you may end up at a school many miles away that isn't as good as your local one.
Why don't you look around the schools. You can't make a choice based on how enthusiastic parents are about it on social media.
There are many advantages in sending your child to a local school.

So I theory I could probably bus there with DS in the morning and walk hole by myself.

Just checking, does this mean you don't drive?

I really wouldn't choose a school that meant I needed to rely on a bus, especially if there was a school just around the corner that doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it.

Do you have younger children? If your eldest starts at a non catchment primary you run in the risk of not getting siblings in later years.
Use all the options on the form as you will get a place on the waiting list for the higher options then you are allocated.

I’m not sure if the comments of ‘it’s fine’ are just being polite and not wanting to be rude as it’s on Facebook and no one wants to openly disregard a school. I had one lady from a Facebook market place sale tell me that their SEN program is awful. DS doesn’t have SEN needs but I sometimes wonder if a school has issues caring for low spectrum SEN children, then they may struggle in other areas too

Having worked in primaries I would very much disagree that they are much of a muchness! And if anyone asked me about my DCs’ school I would definitely not say it is fine, I would say it is absolutely brilliant. Which is why we drive every morning to get there instead of walking to the nearest one. A pain but totally worth it IME.

That said - do visit the schools in question because that’s the only way you can know for sure.

YABU for talking about 'my first preference '. It should be 'our first preference '. Your ds's father has an equal say.

I don't think I'd give up a one minute school run if the ofstead was good, but I'm lazy.

You don't have to go for the closest, but don't drive. It is so much healthier and better for the environment to walk to school and a nearby school will make play dates and friendships easier too.

I do drive, and it would be a 5-10 minute drive. I just meant there were issues with parking at school time I could bus.

This is also a good point!

You’re right: proximity is not the most important consideration in a school but it’s more important than you may think. it will definitely support socialising which is huge at that age.

You definitely need to look round the school as well as reading the reports carefully. Gut reaction and impressions are important. I sent my DD to the closest primary which very much fit the “fine” criteria, not especially outstanding but good with a friendly atmosphere. And at that age having friends whose houses you can go to is a big help.

As others have said you need to think seriously about the likelihood that he will get into your preferred school. If it’s a big gamble you don’t want to put too many eggs in this basket.

Good luck. I have to say looking back I think people worry too much about primary school. The most important at that age is that it’s supportive and friendly.

Of course he gets a say in it. DS is our child and we make decisions together, but he has already told me that he won’t be visiting any schools, so it will be mainly up to me to make a decision.

YANBU to look at other schools rather than automatically go for the closest. But I think you might be underestimating the value of one round the corner.

In my experience, when people don’t think the school is good they say so, they don’t call it “fine” or “okay”, but the parents clearly aren’t raving about it, so if parents of other schools are very complimentary about the other schools, those schools are probably doing significantly more that the parents like. And the biggest factor in a child’s education is the parents - who will obviously still be you wherever you end up sending him.

I think you’re right to look around, but I wouldn’t ignore the advantage of a close school, and I don’t think that advantage is mainly about the school run. Being in a school that you are close to with lots of other kids all living close is a big advantage socially for you kids. It make seeing friends easier, it helps them feel more secure in their local neighborhood as they will recognise more people when out and about and more places if they have spent time visiting friends houses, etc.

The school run is a factor, though. Logistically young kids in school are difficult to deal fit in to working weeks. Your work or your DH’s work might change in the 7 years your kid’s in the school. A school run that’s virtually hassle free (and that he might be able to do himself in later years, could be a boon. I probably wouldn’t pick the round the corner school over the 15 minute walk school on this basis, but it might be an edge against the car drive/25 minute walk school.

I agree with you. There’s four primary schools closer to us than the school my daughter goes to. Ours is 15 minutes away by car.

Go and do the drive at school drop off/pick up time and see what the parking/traffic outside the school is like. I am so glad I can walk to school and don't have to battle for a parking space. Also take other parent's comments with a large pinch of salt. Everyone is looking for different things. Also, our class Whatsapp group is full of parents moaning about all sorts of random stuff that is nothing to do with the actual education. Many of the moans are based on a 5 year olds report of what the teacher said... I have been very happy with our school but I'm sure you could find people who aren't... and most people don't have experience of more than one school so don't have any comparison to judge what the school is like.

I'd put the other two, then the one round the corner as a safe third, assuming distance is the main criteria. However I would not tell DS that you have done this, or big up/ say anything negative about any of the schools until you get your offer.

I would visit, talk to staff and get the vibe. You can ask them what the biggest challenges in their school are.

When we moved house, DS moved from a school which went from good to special measures while he was on roll, to an outstanding school (more affluent area, nicer facilities). He was happy and had good friends in both. The trips and activities were better in the outstanding school, probably because parents could pay for them, but academic rigour and behaviour management were much better in the inadequate school.

I am always mystified by the English system, here in Scotland you go to your catchment area school unless you have good reason for a placing request.

Just to clarify. I am not making my judgements on online research and what people say alone. I will be visiting the schools before I make any judgements but since schools have just started, they are not doing open days until a little later.

I was thinking more on would you send your child to a better school that would involve a drive or bus (5mins/20mins) or an ‘okay’ school that is very close

Also, does anyone live very close to a school or know of someone who did, and they became the ‘since you live so close, can you look after my child until I can get there’ person? I know I can say know but I have struggled growing a backbone and saying no is easier said than done sometimes

I think you need to visit them all.

not sure what you mean by “they also seem highly recommended”, by who? Other parents?

consiser all three but do not underestimate the convenience of having a school very closeby- this will mean that friends are closeby too. And when they are y5/6 they can get themselves to school.

I wouldn’t necessarily be put off because there are “spaces”. My son’s school is fantastic and in two year groups there are spaces but that’s just because of a catchment birth rate blip.

Have you visited the schools ? If not go to their open days .. your know which one is right for your child., I was in an area with lots of primary schools iI pasted at least 6 to get to my sons but it was an amazing primary and was absolutely worth it

Definitely visit, and listen to your gut instinct. But we're like you, we have a primary round the corner, but it felt like it was struggling a bit, whereas we were really impressed with one that is a 20-minute walk away, and that's where the DCs went, and we never regretted it. (Actually, we mostly drive there.) But they're not the only kids who live that distance away, so it's not like all the other kids apart from ours are on the doorstep.

We used to live close to our primary school (10 minute walk) and moved further away (10 minute drive). Much preferred it when we lived close and could walk to and from school.

But, just visit tends schools and go from there.