Super Primary - Super or Scary?

[kpeanuts]

There is a proposal to double the size of my ld's primary school (we're talking over 800 pupils). I know that there are already some Super Primary schools in England and I'd love some Mumsnet wisdom from parents/carers who have children at one....are they a good thing or a bad thing or maybe a mixture of both?

Really depends on how it's going to be run.

No experience sorry but there are large organisations run very well if they have strong leadership, spend wisely and efficient in their processes.

All the primaries in this area are going to four form entry if they can squeeze them into the grounds. The loss of playground space is a major issue for many of them.

They need excellent management above all (well that and a playground!). With that, I honestly believe they can provide a fabulous and nurturing learning environment for the children. It takes a lot of organising though.

Thanks everyone, but I'd love to hear from someone who has kids actually experiencing life at a super primary...is there anyone out there?

DD is currently in a 4 form entry junior school (so 480 children but only over 4 years). Next year they are going to 5 form entry so will rise to 600 children over 4 years.

My experience of it is that it has been fine. she went to a smaller infants school where I appreciated the more nurturing care (though for DS smaller was not better) but at junior level DD has appreciated the greater range of children for friendships and the number of opportunities available. Plus the teachers have more opportunities to spread knowledge and best practice!

It has also meant moving up to secondary (240 children in a year group) has been very easy for DS (who started in Y7 this year, and reports that the children who went to very small primaries are tending to look a little lost).

The main issues for me have been practical - the school wasn't built to accommodate 16 classes (which will rise to 20) so although they have plenty of outside space, access to the hall is restricted (some year groups eat in classrooms) plus they have no specialist rooms. I guess you wouldn't have these issues if the school was purpose built with its actual size in mind though!

There are seven classes in each year at our primary. There are good things and bad things.

Socially it's great, they mix up the classes every year. There is no bullying. There are no problems with the great big year sixes knocking five year olds over in the playground. There's a lovely atmosphere.

The dd are exposed to so many different types of people. There are plenty of male teachers for example.

However it's easy to get lost I think. There isn't much opportunity to shine as there are so many dc.

I can't imagine being at a small school now. Overall I think it's better.

My DC attend a 4 form per year State primary (which I also work in, as admin). It's great. We have state of the art, brand new facilities. Specialist IT, PE and music teachers and we've still got a large enough playground plus playing field. Building works have been ongoing for the last 2 years but finished for start of this term. They were minimally disruptive. It's a great school, it is large in physical size but doesn't feel that way IYSWIM. I'm very happy they have access to specialist teaching and facilities that any other local school would only dream of being able to offer.

Are you currently in an 800, and its going to 1600, or 400 to 800?

Before we emigrated, the kids were at a 90 place intake school. Including Nursery, that was 700 kids.

It was (is) excellently managed by a fab team, and it was 100001 times better than the one form intake school DS1 was at preschool for. The head was amazing, and knew all the kids (as in when I had to collect one early for am emergency, he offered to go collect the other, by naming him, so I could take them both at the same time.

The facilities are nearly all sized for the numbers however. If there isn't the space to have whole school assamblys, and they need staggered lunches to cope with the canteen/playground, I'd have reservations.

My slight worry is that the school is currently under subscribed. It feels like it is being expanded in reaction to a need in another part of the borough. I'm concerned that actually the school will be worse off rather than better off as there is a real danger particularly in the short to medium term that there won't be enough demand and the school may find itself underfunded.

Our school is in transition from two to four form entry - currently R, Y1 are 4 form, Y2, Y3 three and Y4,5,6 two form. It was in response to over subscription both in the local ward (20 kids one year with no place) and borough due to a combination of residential development and people not moving to suburbs as much.

I think it's great. We acquired an (in my view) excellent head and deputy head. Higher numbers have meant more specialist provision in music and specialist teaching assistants. Now on two sites which helps with numbers as by some miracle the LEA hadn,t sold off school buildings from a long defunct school nearby.

The school was good/satisfactory per Ofsted, KS2 average 4B/4C but with a wide distribution between high/middle/low attained. 2014 average was 5C and this year the 2015/16 Y6 cohort of 60 has been split into 3 classes so get private school class sizes.

My two younger kids go to a 4 form entry school. 3 out of 7 years now have 4 forms so we have over 700 children at the school now.
We have just moved into our new buildings which took all of last year to build, it was a bit hellish tbh but the staff remained positive and the kids were brilliant. They also really enjoyed watching 'their' new school being built!
We are lucky as we have plenty of room for the kids to play still, despite the new classrooms. Some other local schools have expanded and they seem very crowded. They can all lunch inside when needed as we have two halls, and they have KS1 and KS2 assemblies.
We have a new, enthusiastic head, and a good framework of staff. Kids can always find someone to play with and we have loads of different clubs and groups for them to join.
It's been a positive mood for our children.