Primary offers - stick or twist?

[Sallyfree]

Eldest DC is starting reception in September. They have a place at our closest school, which is a nice ~20 minute walk away. It’s 3-form entry and not religious. It has a good local reputation and was OFSTED Outstanding on inspection 10 years ago. Unfortunately, since we were given our place, a repeat OFSTED has been pretty damning in all areas, especially leadership and safeguarding and SEND provision.

I’ve just found out that there are spaces available at our second choice school, which is a 2 form entry C of E school. Walk is ~25 minutes but involves walking beside and crossing busy roads. Apart from the walk (which really concerns me), the school seems to tick more boxes - lots of outdoors stuff, pretty friendly.

Would you try and jump ship to the second choice in view of the rubbish OFSTED? Or stick to the first choice and hope that things rapidly turn around?

Second choice

Thanks

Depending on how bad the Ofsted report is, all effort is now probably being thrown at the first school to bring it up to standard. They won’t be complacent any more (like the 2nd school may be), and as such it may not be as bad as you think

Thanks. This is what I’m wondering and hoping, but now having a wobble!

Why was it your first choice originally and why was the other school your second choice? What has changed apart from the Ofsted inspection report.

Any third options? The busy road walk would really put me off too. Perhaps there’s a longer / more scenic way you could get there? Are there things you liked about school no. 1 before the damning Ofsted report came, and do they still stand despite it? I’ve read old posts from people in your position who stuck with school no. 1 and the school managed to turn things around.

Honeslty if the walk is the issue, I don't see why, they should be able to navigate it and they'll be plenty of other students doing the same. If anything it's good for some independence and minimal danger, they have to do it at some point, many y7s get trains, buses and all sorts to get to school, it's just good life skills. Don't let your fear become their fear, the thing that would put me off is that it's CoE but in comparison to poor safeguarding and SEND and teaching, it's not too problematic. It really depends on whether the school gets better - this takes time, a few years, change of training, staff, practices and it needs to be embedded into the school culture. I find this takes time and even though schools say they are trying to get better, they often still remain complacent.

The walk is 15 mins along a main road, followed by crossing at a busy roundabout, with no zebra or pelican crossings. The paths around the corner from school are narrow and difficult to navigate with a pram (I’ve got two younger children). We do it on the way to nursery and it’s really quite unpleasant as lorries thunder past and I can barely chat to the children. This isn’t really about me being overly fearful - I walk everywhere and they are very good at walking long distances - but it’s objectively very polluted and not that safe. A longer way would still involve crossing busy roads - with crossings - but would take 45 minutes.

I liked that the first choice school is local and in the middle of the community, it’s the one that I know other parents have used/are using and they say good things. It feels familiar. I really believe in walking to school as much as possible!

I really liked the second choice because it’s got more outside space and is two forms but put it second mainly due to the location - same town but in a bit of a different direction that means worse commute and probably fewer very local friends as serves the area on the other side of the busy road mainly.

Third choice is full.

Have you read the Ofsted report? I found sometimes they get marked down on things, but when you read the detail, then it’s actually only small things.
beware, Ofsted ratings don’t mean anything. My DS was at an outstanding rated school and had loads of issues (went to council panel and upheld). Now in a different school with a lower rating but it’s absolutely fantastic.

We had a similar situation when our eldest started school a few years ago. Received a really bad Ofsted report the July before we started the Sept. Leadership and Safeguarding where issues for them as well. We stuck around and 2 years later they have got a Good Ofsted. The school has been turned around. New leadership throughout. New policies and practices.

Ofsted didn't form much of our decision on which school to choose though as I really do think it means really little now. Outstanding school can have fundamental issues not flagged in Ofsted whereas requires improvements schools get resources given to them to improve so sometimes can be better places.

Glad your son is doing better!

The report is very bad, to be honest. Although I think teaching is generally OK. New head now in place.

So 10 years ago (three years before even the just left year 6 were on the school, and ?how much turnover in the staff), the Ofsted grading was Outstnding, but very recently, it was found to be 'pretty grim'. The chance that everything would have warranted another 'outstanding' right up until just before the 'rather grim' grading is slightly to zero, yet the school still had a good reputation locally and you yourself thought it was the most desirable school for your own DC to attend.

Unless, of course, your own assessment of its desirability was mostly based on the 10 year old Ofsted inspection - but it wasn't, was it...?

Personally, I would stick with the school which knows how and by how much its socks require pulling up, which is a shorter and more pleasant walk away. And, presumably, where your DD has already been involved in the induction process?

I mean, I think everyone was expecting its crown to be toppled and for it to get rated as good! If only. 😂

We looked at three of our four local schools, after discounting the catholic one. Head at third choice was kind of abrasive and kids poorly behaved - so that put us off. Second choice had a warm but very scatty and self-deprecating feel. First choice is closest and came recommended by colleagues and acquaintances, and it seemed nice on the open day, so it felt like the obvious pick at the time.

That’s such a tricky choice to make right before the start of term. On one hand, the second choice sounds like it ticks more boxes for you in terms of ethos and activities, but I can see why the longer walk with busy roads would be a concern, especially when you’re doing it every day in all weathers.

The OFSTED rating for your allocated school would definitely give me pause too, especially if it’s across multiple areas including safeguarding and SEND provision. That said, it is your closest school and a 20-minute walk is much more manageable - so it’s really about weighing which factors matter most to your family day-to-day as well as long-term.

I’m actually researching school transitions for my PhD at the University of Essex, as part of a UK/European project called SWITCH. We’re wanting to understand more about supporting children's mental health and wellbeing during this big step.

If anyone here has a child starting Reception in Sept 2025, I can share details of how to take part - it’s two questionnaires over two years, and some families may also be invited to the University of Essex for a unique opportunity to explore brain and behavioural development more closely.

Local makes a big difference if there is not much else in it. Better opportunity to facilitate play dates, parties etc especially when the child is year 6 and walking to school by themselves.

Worst case if the school is still shit in 1-2 years your child will be young enough to pull them out and move them without too much impact.

Yes, you’re completely right. First choice is a better walk (seems trivial but we will be spending an hour a day doing this most days for the next 11 years!) and more familiar. Second choice seems perhaps to be a better fit for what my eldest is like right now. Who knows about siblings!

To be clear, second choice is only 5 minutes longer to walk the direct route (25 vs. 20 minutes if no children) but the first half of the walk is unpleasant. Children mainly attend from the part of town that’s further away, ie. If we walked to the school and then kept walking. Those between us and school 2 mainly use school 1.

Will PM about your research!

That makes sense, walking an unpleasant route for an hour a day for 11 years is a lot. It is a really tough decision, but if you do go with the better fit for your child, you can always revisit things later if circumstances change. Feeling confident in the choice for this stage might give you more peace of mind.

Thank you :) I am trying to reach 1000 families so it is quite a task!! but it is research I am very passionate about and that can shape real change.

Although decisions feel momentous in the moment, very few things are "forever" or can't be changed later. I'd be tempted to start at your original choice and keep a close eye on how things pan out.

Thank you. Think this is what I need to hear! I’ve become so anxious about making the “right” decision that I can’t see the wood for the trees. In reality I’m sure both options would have good points and bad points, and both are likely to be fine.

I would stick.
The walk to school being easier and safer is important, not just every morning and afternoon but also attending school events or if your child is ill and needs to be picked up from school.
I chair appeals and in our LA we have had a huge number of reception appeals as it's a bumper year (5 years since lockdown) and children have been refused entry to their catchment schools.
I would wonder why school 2 isn't full, particularly as you say school 3 with poor behaviour is full.
And yes, every possible resource will be poured into school 1 following that OFSTED.

I am sure you posted about this before, a few months ago. I can't find the thread though, maybe it was in 30/90 days only or deleted.

You got lots of advice and opinions on the thread. I said (among other things) that if you were going to change you should do it asap so your child had the opportunity for some visits/settling in sessions before the summer holidays. The fact that you have been dithering so long and haven't actually made the change suggests to me that you want to stick with the first choice school. So I would suggest doing that. Personally I'd be very stressed about trying to change at this point and get all the right uniform etc. (My youngest is starting school in September, I would hate to make such a last minute change.)

I did, embarrassingly. I got great advice but it was 30 days only and has expired so I’m not able to refer back to it.

Neither school has had settling sessions before summer. They are happening as part of induction. I agree it is very late to decide and I promise I’m not doing this to annoy you! Believe me, I wish I could settle it in my mind.

To update - we are sticking with our first choice for our DD. I’m feeling very uneasy about it, especially as second choice is probably the more sensible option on paper. But we decided that there was just a bit too much religion for us (school is VA C of E and seems more God-heavy than some other C of E schools, which are more about “Christian values”). Hoping it works out OK. Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

Well done for making a decision, sounds as if that was your gut instinct all along. Hope your DD settles in well and it all works out. And if it doesn't, you can always rethink - but meanwhile you've made the best decision with the information you have!