Which school nursery would you choose?

[Whichtochoose1]

Hoping you can give me your opinions on this please!

DD will be starting a school nursery this September. We have school A which is very close to where we live, a couple of minutes walk. It’s a good ofsted rated school, quite small, seems nice and gets good results. It seems to have improved considerably over recent times as used to have a rubbish reputation. We then have school B which is an outstanding ofsted rated school about a mile and a half up the road, much larger, has a brilliant reputation locally and seems really nice also.

She’s been offered a place at both nurseries and I don’t know which to choose. She is in the catchment for school A and it’s not oversubscribed whereas she’s just out of catchment for school B and it IS - but when I spoke to the teacher at school B she said DD would be in with a good chance of getting in to the school and that if not we would have good grounds for appeal for a couple of reasons I won’t go in to as this is long enough!

School B is also a feeder school for a brilliant secondary in the area whereas A isn’t and only has a small amount of children get in to this secondary, most go to another one which has an awful reputation, poor results and poor ofsted rating. She would be in the catchment for both secondaries but would be in a much stronger position at school B (B is a C of E school and it’s a Christian secondary so she would be higher up the admissions criteria)

Im worried that if she goes to B and then doesn’t get in to reception there it will be an upheaval for her but I’m also equally worried that if she goes to A she will end up at a rubbish secondary. Which would you choose?

So basically

A - decent reputation in recent years, good results for children, most children go on to a less than impressive secondary with poor results, we are in catchment so she is guaranteed a place in reception after nursery

B - fantastic reputation, most children go on to a brilliant secondary with great results, she isn’t in catchment so risks not getting in to reception after nursery year and having to start over with settling in somewhere new

Sorry it’s long!

When were the Ofsted inspections done? How recently was school B outstanding?

I think I would go with school A for nursery and apply to B for reception.

That way you can try out school A and see what you think. If you get a place in B then great, move her there. If you don't then you know that she has friends/is established at A.

Don't worry about secondary school, things can change massively in eight years! Who knows which school will be doing what by the time she's secondary age.

A for convenience. B for infants or junior school.

Also, chill out a bit. Considering your grounds for future school place appeals is nuts.

Haha oh I do see that comes across a bit intense doesn’t it. It wast me who even thought about it actually, the teacher mentioned it.

Im not being insane I promise, just wondering what is the best option and thought it’d be good to get some opinions on here🙂

Thanks for replying!

B has been outstanding for a good few years, both inspections are from a year ago and 2 years for A.

Yeah I think this is looking like the best decision. I’m trying not to overthink it but I just want to do what’s best for DD!

Thank you for replying🙂

A for nursery. It will give you a feel for the school as well.

My rule of thumb for primary is to always go to the closer school unless very good reason not to. There are so many benefits from being at the closest school (especially if you can walk) in terms of time saved, stress levels relieved, close friends nearby, and the ability for your child to gain independence when that's age appropriate. So I would also be looking at A for school.

The only potential downside is the secondary school, but that is such a long way away, there is a falling birth rate, and so much might happen over the next 8 years, that I wouldn't factor that in as a reason. In particular schools with poor Ofsteds often have a lot of pressure to make improvements, and you have time on your side to see them happen!

I'd go for the nearer preschool at A if you have a good chance of getting into School B. Then she can have a set of friends outside school which is always a good thing.
How genuine are these good reasons for winning on appeal for school b though? Have you looked at the latest admissions policy? Is it a medical condition? The Head will be wanting to fill her preschool place for the income.
Have you looked at the secondary schools to check the feeder info is true?

Yes, I think this sounds like a good idea. My husband said the same about the secondary school part. A does seem a really nice school and it would be very convenient.

Thank you for taking the time to reply!🙂

Yes I had already looked in to the admissions criteria for the secondary school.

It is a good point about wanting to fill places for the income.

I understand what you mean about different groups of friends but I feel like the transition from nursery to school will be easier if she’s used to her surrounding I suppose. I guess there’s pros and cons with everything though!

I’m leaning towards school A at the moment.

Thanks for your reply🙂

School A because walking to school with friends and spontaneous play dates after school are so lovely.

I am an Ofsted sceptic I’m afraid, since I know the results can be distorted (my DD’s school bribed the kids heavily to behave well during Ofsted visits, so Ofsted didn’t see the classroom evacuations, fighting, the swearing and rude wanking gestures some kids were so fond of!)

My dd went to this “outstanding” school and whilst some years were ok, it got worse and worse. I know quite a few parents hated the HT as the school was appalling at managing misbehaviour and bullying. I know people who speak so highly of the school and, sure, my dd got good SAT scores - but beneath the surface it wasn’t a good experience for my dd or the others in her class. She didn’t have a single IT lesson in y6 for example because of SAT drilling and poor behaviour. The first two terms of y6 were intensively dedicated to maths and English and SPaG to push them to excel at SATs. They did nothing else in that space of time except PE. Then after SATs they “caught up” on other subjects’ curricula which meant NO maths or English all summer so by secondary they’d forgotten an awful lot. It was outrageous and if I’d known in advance I would not have sent her to the school. But too late once she is settled with friends.

And everyday people are on FB recommending this school and the people who hate it don’t say a word because it looks like sour grapes.

My point is - not all outstanding schools are truly amazing and many good schools are - they just didn’t tick one of the absurd little Ofsted boxes.

Also - what’s the reason school B sends so many kids to the good secondary - is this about grammar school selection? Since we are not a grammar area, it doesn’t matter where you were schooled for secondary, it matters where you live when you apply (assuming you don’t meet the other selection requirements like sibling at the school, looked after child etc).

If it’s about getting into grammar school and school b is better then YES to school b. Otherwise school A.

My ds therefore goes to our local “good” rated school. It is vastly better in reality - than DD’s outstanding school - loads of space, better resources (as PTA is more active and profitable), better led by a more ambitious SLT. Teachers are wonderful, staff turnover is low, enrichment is slightly better too.

I would start at school A but I’d keep a close eye on it and if I wasn’t impressed I’d try to move to school B at end of y2.

My kids went to the local secondary. Was rated meet expectations only. Not the school parents wanted their kids to go to, not the most popular, but both kids liked it best. They both did brilliant. 10 years later, it IS the massively popular school, massively over subscribed! It's been cited as the second best non religiously affiliated school in the whole county.

The then popular secondary is struggling as everyone wants to go to the other!

Definitely don't consider secondary schools based on current standings and popularity.

• Dont trust a school sayinv youbwill win an appeal.. its only for mistakes if it is for a Reception class with 30 children. Anything else has to be in the Oversubscription criteria (like LAC, ECHP etc.)

• What do you nean by Feeder? Again, is that in the Ovetsubscription Criteria fir the Secondary? These can change.

The other point about oversubscription criteria is that the make up of a cohort changes over time.

10 years ago you had to be in catchment and attending a feeder to school to get into our local secondary school.

Nowadays, due to the local population aging and fewer local children, they are taking out of catchment children from several miles away.