To move schools after 4 weeks

[Scarletth]

My kids are in year 4, 2 and reception and I recently moved them to a local primary school 5 minutes walk from our new house that we have just moved to. The older two were both very happy at their old school (which is now a 20 min drive away) but I really wanted to be able to walk to school and for them to have local friends.

I now want to move them back to their old school! My husband thinks I am insane. at the old school they were in smaller class sizes of 22, my oldest is now in a mixed year class of 34. The kids say that their new teachers are always shouting to get the class to be quiet. The old school is ofsted outstanding and I really liked it. The new school seems a bit chaotic and run down. I much preferred the teachers at the old school, they seemed warmer and friendlier. Is signing up for a 20 min drive each way twice a day completely crazy?

Is it 20 minutes at usual hours, or at school drop off?

20 minutes doesn’t seem much unless it’s in the opposite direction to work and so adding 40 minutes essentially?

20 minutes is fine. I would move them back if they are not happy.

Only you will know how you can accommodate a 20 min journey. I managed one a bit over 15 mins away with mine for a few years. It depends on your work and other commitments. It's parent evenings, fundraisers, friends groups and "your child needs picking up as ill" calls as well as the commute of course.

It depends on whether you have to drop then and then get to work, yourself in one piece, without too much added stress.

Are there still spaces at their old school?

Sounds like you were mad to move them. They may have already filled your kids places now. Most schools have waiting lists.

They have most likely filled the places OP. It was Census day last week so they want max bums on seats.

Would your reception child get a place? Having primary age kids in two different school would be hard work.

You will need to check there are spaces for all 3.

If they were in class sizes of 22, they probably still have space to take them back.

Are you talking about 20 minutes each way, so 2 x 40 mins for you each day?

Yes they have spaces to take them and yes it is a 20 min drive each way so 40 mins round trip

Where would they go to Secondary school? If the old school is not a feeder school for the secondary school you want then it might make the transition to secondary more difficult.

If the old school will put them back in their old classes, I don't think this is a crazy plan, but nearly an hour and a half of commuting every day is only possible if you have the time and are going to continue to have the time for the next 7 years (is the oldest going to be able to get to secondary school on their own while you're still taking their siblings to primary?)...

We bought a new house this summer. And I am driving my three children 25 mins back to their old school every day. Which is a wonderful school and I’ll never move them, they love it there.

@Pinkflamingo10 how are you finding the time and petrol cost? I’m pretty much set to move them back but it is a big commitment.