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Original poster

Primary school results plummeted

31 replies

Confidencecrushed · 10/12/2024 01:12

Hi, the traditionally top performing state school on our doorstep secured average ks2 results for 2 consecutive years. We really love the ethos, the diversity and the convenience, but we are overwhelmed with sense of guilt that we should do more for our child. Reception entry is 2026. 80% from his nursery will go private, including some (half?) with less economic means than us. The reality is that the private ones around us are not obviously better than great state ones academically or if they are, they only go to 8 years old. My husband is feeling really stupid for having bought the house in the wrong catchment, when I was pushing for other schools that are still performing. What advices for us please?

OP posts:
Hohofortherobbers · 10/12/2024 08:33

Yep, I didn't look at sats either, nice local small school, happy kids, job done

Original poster
Confidencecrushed · 11/12/2024 01:09

Hollyhollyberry · 10/12/2024 08:31

For your primary the main thing is your child will be happy and nurtured. A happy child is more likely to learn and not be worried about other things. With primary you can tutor / pay for a tutor for later years to help boost if needed.

I wouldn’t worry too much about academic for primary as you can help. I would worry more about staff turnover, bullying policy and if your school is focused on results or individual children

Thank you. @Hollyhollyberry staff turnover is a likely reason (one of many I guess) behind the change in results…

OP posts:
Original poster
Confidencecrushed · 11/12/2024 01:13

Yalta · 10/12/2024 04:34

You have to look at the school which is right for your child and not what you think is a good school for your child

I chose a school for DS that was in special measures. People thought I had gone mad sending DS to this school. The new HT though had a vision for the school and some of the extra things they were bringing in were things that I knew DS would love (chess club, it club etc)
Within 3 years the catchment area to get into the school was substantially decreased
and it was rated Outstanding

I had sent both dd and ds to an Outstanding school. It was truly awful for them. I ended up pulling them out

You can’t just move to a catchment area of an outstanding school and job done

You have to know your child and look at the school objectively and find a good fit for your child

Worrying about school ratings and buying in certain catchment areas is just madness

Thank you. @Yalta one of my concerns is that actually the new HT (appointed last year) does not seem as inspired and as strong as the previous one, seems to delegate more too

OP posts:
Original poster
Confidencecrushed · 11/12/2024 01:17

thank you. @LizzoBennett we are torn because we love many things about the school but great results and standards are table-stakes. And wonder if thing will continue to get worse for the state sector or actually improve so our head can follow our hearts

OP posts:
Original poster
Confidencecrushed · 11/12/2024 01:21

pinotnow · 10/12/2024 06:19

This is all wrong. You have no idea why the results have 'plummeted' or what the school will be like when your child goes. SATs are a total waste of everyone's time anyway. Maybe they had Y6 like an exam factory before and have realised it was damaging in other ways so put a stop to it. 80% going private won't help - maybe the VAT addition will limit that a bit.

As a secondary school teacher and a very invested parent I wish we had the attitude that everyone attends their (well-funded) local school instead of all this angst about house prices and league tables. What a shit-show.

Thank you. @pinotnow I agree with you, unfortunately though the wisdom of crowds is different

OP posts:
Yalta · 11/12/2024 04:41

Confidencecrushed · 11/12/2024 01:17

thank you. @LizzoBennett we are torn because we love many things about the school but great results and standards are table-stakes. And wonder if thing will continue to get worse for the state sector or actually improve so our head can follow our hearts

Forget about results

For all you know the fantastic results in previous years had many pupils who had tutors to get them to the top level

Look at your child, not what you hope they will be but who they are. What are their likes/dislikes strengths/weaknesses

Then look at the school and ask yourself is this the right school for my child

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