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Original poster

How did you choose your child's primary school?

32 replies

Metrobaby · 26/11/2004 12:58

I've been looking at a few lately. What made you choose the school you did? Was a gut feeling, locality or something else?

OP posts:
marialuisa · 26/11/2004 13:04

Gut feeling, it was just such a warm, happy atmosphere. Have been proved right so far, tehy are lovely.

Thing is, I can also see why other people wouldn't like DD's school, esp the nursery.

Currently sulking because we're moving to the East Midlands and have to go through this again. Suspect this time that location may have to override gut feeling because of commute etc.

Gobbledigook · 26/11/2004 13:08

It's the catchment area school and it happens to be fantastic in all regards. Also, I had a lovely feeling about it when I went to visit so I think the 'gut feeling' does come into it.

I take notice of the academic results of course but what I especially like about the one ds1 will to go next Sept, are all the extra facilities - it has a huge fantastic playing field and a great playground. It is affiliated with the sports club just round the corner so they get to do hockey and lacrosse there on top of all the usual footie and rugby (got ds's so not sure of girls sports!). They have loads of extra-curricular activities and links with schools in France and Italy that they do work with. The IT room is fab and also, they cook all the school meals fresh on site.

I'm incredibly lucky that the local school happens to be good in all regards, but what I'd be looking for if I was looking around would be:

  1. a good gut feeling on visiting - kids there look happy, evidence of lots of fun things going on
  2. good academic results
  3. good facilities and extra-curricular activities

They are in no order. I'm looking primarily for my ds's to be happy and well rounded - not necessarily straight A* students, though of course the fact that the school does well academically means that the chances of your child doing his best in this regard are probably quite high. The other thing for me was how well the school does with regard to 11+ as we have still have fantastic state grammar schools here and so ideally I'd like mine to go to those if at all possible.

fisil · 26/11/2004 13:10

This is timely. I've been on the net this morning looking for when open days are - and I can't find any information at all. Where else can I look?

WideWebWitch · 26/11/2004 13:17

Metrobaby, I've posted this before but I asked my dad what he thought I should look for in ds's first school (my dad was a teacher) and he said very firmly: "ask if they have fun." The reaction I got in the 3 schools I looked at was telling: the first said er, yeah, I 'spose so; the second said um, yes, and the third head clapped her hands and asked the whole class to put their hands up if they had fun at school. She then chose a couple of children to tell me why. I went for that one. Sadly, my dad was dead by the time ds actually started at that school 6 months later , but I'm so grateful for that advice, I think it was fab.

I wouldn't bother with the Ofsted reports, I'd just go and see the school and see whether you like the head (important imo, a good head), the atmosphere and the feel of the school.

WideWebWitch · 26/11/2004 13:18

fisil, just ring them and ask to look around, you don't have to wait for an open day.

puddle · 26/11/2004 13:24

Our must-have criteria were:

  • happy atmosphere with engaged confident children
  • 'buzzy' place with lots of interesting things on offer for the children to do
  • warm and approachable staff who engaged ds when we went to visit
  • local, within walking distance and likely to have some of the children he knows there
  • a dynamic head who had a vision for the school

We looked at the Ofsted, which was good although the school was not academically as good as the other school on offer, nor did it have the best facilities either in terms of outside space. In the end we just loved the school's atmosphere and could see our ds being happy there - the way they do things suits his personality I think. And so far, fingers crossed, it's been great.

Azure · 26/11/2004 13:24

I've also been looking at schools. I phoned them up to find out the open days, get a prospectus (if there is one) and put my name down. I've been looking at a mixture of state and private. I agree with the "gut feel" comment, and also about decent facilities. I've only looked at state schools with good results / Ofsted reports - the one closest to my house has a lot of negative indicators, and so we haven't been around there. It's interesting how schools within a couple of miles of each other (I'm in London) can vary so much. Also, what is good on paper might just not feel right when you visit(and I admit the reverse may be true).

SoupDragon · 26/11/2004 13:31

Gut feeling. There was nothing to choose between our closest schools wrt ofsted and sats so we went with the one we felt was right for DS1 and would be right for DS2 when the time came.

Azzie · 26/11/2004 13:46

For me, it was the 'happy' feeling. I'd heard nothing bad about the school from other people, which was reassuring, but what I liked about the place was the atmosphere. It felt 'right', and when I went and looked round I saw a bright and cheerful environment (even though it's an old building), with lots of interesting and creative work up on the walls, and children who looked happy and engaged in what they were doing. I could imagine my DS there, unlike at the very prestigious private school I also looked at, where the children seemed just too well behaved and quiet.

DS is in Year 2 now, and is very happy and doing well. DD has followed him into the same school, and also seems well settled in Reception.

fruitful · 26/11/2004 13:48

I apparently have to choose an infant school for my 2.5yo within the next 6 weeks. The booklet about nursery places from the council arrived in the post a couple of days ago, and we've got to apply for a place by the 7th Jan. I know she doesn't have to go into Reception at the same school that she does Nursery at, but its unlikely we'll want to move her, isn't it?

She's 2.5! I didn't think I'd be thinking about schools for ages! Oh well, I'm off to visit the two nearest schools next week...

Carla · 26/11/2004 13:51

Good reputation
Happy children
Wonderful headmaster who interacts with children
Good Ofsted reports
Buzzing atmosphere

Frieda · 26/11/2004 13:53

The thing that swung it for us was the fact that nearly all the children in our road go to the local (est) school ? which is a real community school ? and it would have felt a bit odd to be going off in the opposite direction every morning. And now that we've got to know lots of really local kids, they meet up on the way to school and can easily pop round to play with each other, which is really nice.

puddle · 26/11/2004 13:55

Frieda - I agree with you. We are very very lucky that we have a great school five minutes away. And the kids all meet up in the park after school and during holidays - it is a real community.

jac34 · 26/11/2004 14:03

Our infant and primary school are split over 2 sites but are both local.
I like to be able to walk the boys to school, also it's a small school, lovely atmosphere, dedicated teachers and well supported by parents. On the whole we are very lucky, but it was one of the things we looked at when buying our house.
My DS's are in the Infants at the moment, but when they go to Juniors they will only have to go to the end of our road.
I personally feel its important for them to go to school with kids from their local area.We live in the suburbs of a city,but have a high street and very much a village sort of feel, to our comunity, and feel it's important they know people locally and fit in to the comunity.

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:10

I'm in the same boat too. We're moving completely out of the area (like 150mile out of it) so have been speaking to the local schools this morning.
Ok, gonna rant abit now so excuse me for a while......

The are 3 primary schools in the town but 2 are over subscribed and the 3rd has been decribed as being in social and economic deprivation.

Now I know I sound like a horrid snob saying this but there is no way I'm sending my child(children) to that school as I feel he will only be used to up their figures and he will gain nothing from a bad school. His teacher told me he is the brightest boy in his class(proud smilie) and I simply cannot believe that he will continue doing so well at a school described as being as that.

Arrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Agree with most in the it's gut feeling. But I love your Dad's advice most WWW and for you.

codswallop · 26/11/2004 14:20

so move near one of the good ones - then you are in!

codswallop · 26/11/2004 14:21

we sent ds1 to our brand new local school he was it eh first year and so was in a class of 15.

can you imagien some parent chose to drive to to other schools! - theya re all back tracking now needless to say

he i 160meters aways from it, s o if he forgets his lunch I can walk back and get it

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:29

The nearest and the one we want is less than 5 minutes walk away but over subscribed, the next one is probably 45 mins but again over-sub.
The 3rd grotty one is about 35 mins walk and I bet they have loads of space.....I haven't even bothered to check.

He just ain't going there!

(btw coddy, my feet are lovely even with my lapses)

LIZS · 26/11/2004 14:31

Just been through this and are awaiting the outcome of ds' application having been notified yesterday that dd has got a place at first choice infant school. Irony is if he doesn't get into the first choice junior we are not sure we want her place there ! And if he passes the assessment for a private school we won't need either anyway.

Thread is here if anyone is interested in our dilemmas and the advice I was given!!

codswallop · 26/11/2004 14:32

yes but emma overs ubscibed soetn mean you wont get aplace if you fulfill the criteria

( well done about the hoooves)

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:36

That's what I'm hoping coddy. He's such a good pupil{proud smilie again} that they will beg us to send him at that school regardless of their numbers.

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:36

That's what I'm hoping coddy. He's such a good pupil{proud smilie again} that they will beg us to send him at that school regardless of their numbers.

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:37

opps

LIZS · 26/11/2004 14:37

emma, when you say oversubscirbed do you mean they are actually full or that they get more applications than spaces. I think from another thread that you are due to move reasonably soon but that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be a space in time for your ds. The LEA are obliged to make provision and you can always go on the waiting list for those 2 schools. Remember anyone else on their waiting list is likely to be already attending school elsewhere locally but your ds won't be so may get priority. Don't despair !

emmatmg · 26/11/2004 14:45

What I understand from talking to our first and second choices they are both full.

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