Choosing a primary school.

[aksimon]

I would really appreciate some advice. I have a nearly four year old daughter and am looking at primary schools. We basically have the choice between two.

One is a one form entry, 'satisfactory' ofsted, five miles away and I don't think much of the head. But, three good friend's little girls would be in her class; I am very friendly with their mothers and it would be a good social circle for us both.

The second has only 50 pupils or so, three classes, R,1&2, 3&4 and 5&6 though numbers are so low at the bottom of the school this may change. The school is 'good' according to ofsted and has a lovely feel. But there are only 2 children in the current year R, and would be perhaps 6 or 7 in next years intake. And although it is closer (we moved nearer recently) - 2 miles away, my daughter wouldn't really know anyone. She is bright and I am concerned there would be no competition and the social circle would be too restricted.

I would really appreciate your thoughts - be honest!

Anna

I wouldn't let the fact that your daughter wouldn't know anyone put you off - children of that age make friends very easily.

However the mixed year groups and very small intake would worry me personally - just in terms of how they differentiate etc - a YR1&2 class could have very young 4 year olds and rising 7 year olds - very different imo.

I think I'd go for the small school. Your daughter will quickly get to know lots of other children and she will get lots of individual attention. This is a world away from our experience in Inner London where our choice, such as it was, was between primary schools with 30 in a class - although my son did still end up in a mixed age class (75 per year group > one mixed age class in years 1/2 and 3/4). However, it's very reminiscent of the schools in my mum and dad's area - they live on an island in Scotland and all the primary schools are very small. The children seem to do very well.

What does your social circle have to do with the quality of education your child should recieve. Do you really think she is going to gravitate towards children because their mother's are your friends?

Go for the school that is closest and has the best feel to it even though it is the smallest.
At primary schools the head is very important and I wouldn't choose a school if I didn't like the Head.

The very small school would worry me too for a number of reasons, tho they can be lovely lovely places.

Five miles away is a nightmare - are you very rural or are there closer schools? I would be very unkeen to drive five miles each day but then if I had that kind of radius of consideration I would probably be looking at about 30-40 schools!

Unless you are in the middle of nowhere and these are yr closest schools I would think again.

If they are yr closest schools, hmmm I wd prob go for the closer school. A school wheer I didn';t think much of the head wdn't get my vote; also your social circle (which is what that sounds like) is hardly the main point!