Debate - Small Village school (50) v Big Town School (370)

[Countrybumkin]

What do people think is the best option?

Both relatively good schools

Interested to hear peoples opinions

My two eldest moved from a large town primary to a small village school last year. They were fine in their previous school and had plenty of friends, but now they are really flourishing. A smaller school is able to be much more flexible and can tailor teaching according to individual needs.

I have also observed that a small community seems to be more accepting of variety and difference than in their previous school where there was more of a herd mentality. My theory is that there is no where for bullies to hide in a small school and they all know that they have to get along regardless of eccentricities.

Hope this helps.

My 8 and 7 yo have been in medium (180 pupils) big (320) and now small village school (90 children). Due to two house moves when they were infant age. I wasn't a fan of small village schools and really I wanted them to stay at the second school with lots of facilities such as swimming pool, nature reserve, etc. But they have been happy at all 3 of their schools and I suspect they are happiest at the small village one. Though it has fewer resources, it's terribly friendly, children make friends across the age groups and the dds have got a very strong sense of local community from it.

So I'm not exactly a convert to little schools, I wouldn't choose a school because of its size, it's not one of the most important things to me. But I am more impressed than I expected to be with the little village school.