How did you choose your child's primary school?

[Metrobaby]

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

Just been reading your comments about schools. I am a early years teacher who is currently taking a career break. What I can offer is some general advice. Basically if you want your child to go to your local school because it has a good name and is overscribed, basically become a pain to your local school and local council. Use the fact that it is your local school, all the children in the area go and that you have no alternative means of getting your child to the school. If the school has a good name and is overscribed it generally means that they have good results and a happy school with a happy environment. If your child is attending a nursery school then you should be contacted by the local council asking where you would like to send your child. Don't worry about sending the child to an alternative school afterwards as you will probably find that all the other children in the nursery class that actually live in the area are going to the same school. I wouldn't worry necessary about OFSTED reports as some schools from personal experience basically put on a show when inspectors come around, look at the SAT's results for the end of KS2 shows the academic results of a school.

Poppy, I just gave up Ds2 nursey place at Ds1's school because of the move. Do you think I should have kept it?

I ummmmmmed and arrrrrred about whether to send him or not but as I he'll only be there for matter of weeks I thought it might be abit hard on him.

After reading your post about the council contacting about a place I wonder if I made the wrong choice.

Sorry to hi-jack again metrobaby

We wanted a school that was close, but there were at least 4 options. The primary reason for our choice was gut feeling when we visited; about the Head, the children, the school, the resources. Children seemed happy and content, they were polite, and held the doors open for visitors and each other. (This is a state primary school and half of catchment is deprived area.) The Head knew all the children by name, and far more - she had a relationship with them, and clearly knew them as individuals. (This is a school with nearly 500 children!)

It's nearly 3 years since we made that first visit and the school and the Head have only gone up in my estimation since then

I liked the head teacher, she said some very withering things about the National Curriculum which immediately made me warm to her.

She was easy to see, made me an individual appointment (unlike at one school where it was a job lot with other parents) and focussed on the physical and social needs of the children at that age, rather than the academic ones. Having said that, the academic standard is high.

you know what? I don't envy you mothers today.

When dd started to school - she went to the one nearest to us - that was it - end of story.

No league tables, no charts, no nights chewing my nails wondering if I'd get my school of choice - and do you know what? She had a great time, lovely school, good discipline, plenty of encouragement and at home too - AND she, and ds's after her, all flourished.

I went for a school with a happy caring atmosphere, small classes, plenty of opportunities outside the normal curriculum (music, drama etc) a good discipline policy backed up by the behavious that I saw and that boycotts SATS.