How do I choose the best primary school?

[vickirob]

My son starts primary school september 2012, I have no idea where to start with choosing a school? Can anyone give advice? Do primary schools allow you to go & look round or are you expected to choose one just off recommendations? He currently attends a nursery school in a primary but I have reservations about sending him there, are smaller classes always better? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

What area are you looking at?

When I first looked, I went to the schools to have a look around. I went to 3 and they all showed me round there and then, even though I was prepared to make an appointment.

I wanted a school in walking distance, which meant narrowing 5 down to 3, which I did by looking at the Ofsted reports. My second choice would have been a car journey but I didn't like any of the other local ones.