Help me choose a school too!

[SnackSizeRaisin]

I am having to make choices between two local primary schools. Both of them are within a 15 minute walk. Due to where we live we would almost certainly be offered a place at both. Apart from that, here are the pro's and cons:

School A
Very popular school
Ofsted outstanding although not inspected for 9 years
2 form entry, over subscribed (could be good or bad to have a bigger school)
Very academic in nature
Child is currently attending the attached nursery so has friends already
I have friends who will send their children there so it would be better for my own social life (minor consideration!)
Scruffy buildings
But the main problem is that I didn't like the head teacher, found her insincere and didn't get a good vibe from pupil/teacher reactions to her.

School B
Ofsted good
Catholic school although undersubscribed so our not being Catholic won't matter for getting in - form sizes about 20-25 (I doubt they will combine classes but worried small groups may mean problems with friendships)
On balance I'd probably rather not a religious school but it's not my main concern
Very friendly, community type school
Lots of extra curricular and social activities for the children
Not as good results wise but they have strong assessment protocols and track progress well - think this is something that they were told to improve in the last ofsted.
More SEN and FSM children as a proportion of the whole (catchment area but also parent choice as a good environment for supporting those with extra needs)
Buildings are prefabs (as are most schools round here) but bright and clean
I really liked the head, she was very keen.

Our older child is quite shy and I think she'd benefit from the smaller school, at least during the early years. On the other hand there'd be more potential friends at the bigger school. Plus maybe more variety in after school clubs

How much does the head really matter? I wouldn't expect to deal with them much on a personal level especially at the bigger school, but I guess if you do need them it's probably for something important.

So basically it's between go with gut feeling and choose the small friendly school B or choose based on the bigger sized school A offering more opportunities. Most local parents choose A.

What would you do?

So both school is quite small anyway, I don't call 2 form a big school.
I'd go with your gut feeling. The results really doesn't matter, imo. It can change over the years, the child's ability and your involvement matter more, especially in primary.
You don't like head of A . That's my cue. And later in the years, if you think the other school is better, you can always move. There is always a movement.

Is school B a single form intake?
Heads can, and do, change.

Yes school B is single form and never full.

My concern is more my child feeling happy and confident - I'm sure either school can teach her to read etc. I guess it's the social aspect of the smaller school that worries me a bit. Although we are in a grammar school area so I'd like her to have that option if possible...

Tbh, both school are small. But obviously 2 form has more children than 1 form.
If you are mostly worried about the social aspect, then send her to the school with more children, where most of her current friends go. It's simple.

School A. A undersubscribed single form school won't have the resources to offer as much support and co-curricular activities. School budgets are a disaster at the moment and full school is much better funded which matters to provision.

If you really dislike the head that's one thing but initial impressions can be off. I'd start at the full school as if the head turns out to be a problem, you can always move to the undersubscribed catholic school. Moving the other way, may not be possible

Thanks for your thoughts. Probably leaning towards A (better not forget to actually apply!)