Would you compromise education for convenience??

[Thirstysomething]

Absolutely honestly, would you?!
Am trying to decide between outstanding (Ofsted say) primary school 15 min drive away, or the village school next door (literally), which is Good.
School next door is sweet, but only two classes in the whole school and seems a bit chaotic.
School fifteen mins away is about 25 pupils per year, neat, great facilities and outstanding for foundation stage, good thereafter.
If they were side by side I would go for the larger school... but they're not. I have younger kids and tbh walking through our garden to school would be heaven!
But don't want to compromise her education for my convenience - or do I? It might be beneficial for the whole family to have a calmer mummy in the mornings!
I was thinking 'it can't matter too much when she is only four' but then met two teachers at my book club last week who said that the foundation years were the most important of all - they made me feel really guilty!

Depends on the atmosphere and ethos of the 2 schools.

I had the choice of 2 primary schools on my doorstep, both Good according to OFSTED. I went with the one where I felt the ethos was right.

TBH I don't think what OFSTED says is the deciding factor. They can be a bunch of wankers and the report is very dependent on what they were focussed on measuring at the time they last did the inspection.

Hmmm, tricky one. I've always said if I had a reasonably good school within walking distance, I couldn't NOT send my child there purely for convenience!

Is the further away/larger school over-subscribed? Personally I would try the next door school first. You could always move her later if you weren't happy with the education. Don't listen to those teachers - I don't believe any stage is more important than another. And like you say, to have a few seconds walk to school would be fantastic all round.

There is not a lot of difference between good and outstanding and next year it could even be reversed. Which school do you like best?

I drive 80 minutes each day taking my son to a preschool in the next town because he likes it there and they're doing a good job. I was feeling grumpy about doing so much driving and then I found out that some parents were having to do double that. (We're in the US).

Everyone does to some extent. Do we put our 11 year olds on trains for an hour or more, or drive two children in opposite directions for the ideal school for them.

Personally I think what is crucial about foundation is: teaching the basics and getting kinds to see school as a positive experience. I'd go for the local one, rather than an hour a day in the car, and awkward playdates etc.

I had this distance and choose the school within walking distance. Mt neighbours choose the school that they have to drive to every day. We are all happy with our choice.

My dc's school is more then satisfactory - very very good in fact and it's lovely knowing so many families who live near by.

I'm not that bothered about facilities because I take my children to activities outside of school, but they have a very good bio garden and interesting science room. Like someone else says, it's the feeling and ethos of the school which are lovely.

Stay near. You'll find it easier to stay involved in a nearer school, and more energy to do extra activities. Btw will more than make up difference between good and outstanding, if you 'like' them both

I would go for the school next door I think. Although I would like to see how the 2-class system works in reality. Do they have a separate Foundation Stage? Or is it divided into one infant class and one junior class? If so that's a lot of different age groups and possibly only one or two friends to choose from at the same age. Good luck!

I would, and have, gone for the local conveneience over officially better school.

my dds have been in an Outstanding, then a Good, and now a merely Satisfactory school. And we have not seen any difference, not in my dds' enjoyment, nor in their achievement, nor in the whole ethos and feel. We and the dds have been fine in all 3 schools.

meanwhile, they spend their childhood with a pleasant 5 minute meander to school, rather than a stressy car journey. To me that's worth a lot.

"convenience".

My eyes aren't really open yet this morning...

Ofsted is just one measurement, and it really depends on how tough the examining team is etc. Have a look at the SATs results as well, and if you know parents with kids at both schools, ask them what they think. Go and have a look for yourself as well, if you haven't already.

I'd probably go for the closest school in your situation. It's a lot of hours of your life to lose in the travelling if you go for the other one, and you could spend that time supporting your kid's education at home (though I'm sure you'd do that anyway). It'll also be easier to have your other kids at the closer school once after-school clubs etc kick in when they get a bit older. You are also more likely to become involved with the school if it's closer by - PTA, governor, whatever.

And there is something to be said for your kids having friends that are local, as this will influence after-school activities - not just playdates, but also things like Brownies or cubs etc. Much better to have those closer!

We chose the school over convenience.
Our local schools are all huge, and 2 out of 3 were chaotic- I felt deeply unhappy in one of them, that's before (routine-driven, noise-hating) DD even got there.
I hate the school run with a passion, but some things are worth the hassle.
She is happy, secure, learning well and flourishing in the school we chose as a match for her needs.

The decision would be a lot easier if one school was a very bad school, like CaptonNancy says.

But if one school is good and the other excellent, the decision is a lot harder.

there are all sorts of comprimises that have to be made. I've comprimised ds2's education for ds1's. Ds1 needed a VERY understanding and supportive mainstream school. he would not have been ok at an academic and high flying school. Ds2 would have done better at an academic and high flying school, but he's stuck with the one I chose for ds1. Sometimes I feel guilty - mostly I don't.

I agree that it's unusual not to compromise in some form. We have two DDs and we're trying to find a school that we think would suit their (very different) personalities, because there is no way that we are dealing with two school commutes in opposite directions. And it's very easy to think "I wouldn't mind that, it would be nothing compared to finding the perfect school for my DCs", because, after all, who wants second best for their children? But you could have to live with the stress and inconvenience every school day for 7 years. That's a long time.

I'm also someone who puts more store by the atmosphere than the Ofsted, by the way. Definitely go and visit both, if you haven't already!

I would go for the local school every time, unless you percieve there to be major problems with it. When you say "seems a bit chaotic" - can you give us examples of what you mean?

I wouldn't see that as choosing convenience over education, but of supporting your local school and educating your children in the heart of their local community, which is very important IMHO.

Go with your gut feeling - which school do you think would be best for your child? And, given that you have younger children, which school do you think would suit all of them (or the greatest number of them, if you have more than 2) the best?

You may find yourself in a situation in future where you feel that one school will not suit all your kids anyway, and might be doing 2 school runs. I know many families who do this. One size certainly does not fit all when it comes to education.

As others have said, OFSTED isn't the be all and end all.

And no, I would not choose convenience over education. And I don't believe that you would either. I don't think that's what you're doing here . You are weighing up the options and deciding what to do for the best, as a responsible parent. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks all -- I didn't want to bore on, but obviously didn't give enough info!
Will call the schools Far School and Village School for convenience.
My daughter is a funny little thing - at home she is incredibly loud and bossy (currently going through that selfish me me me stage) and then her nursery says she is the quietest child in the school and so shy. So I am not sure how she is going to be when she goes to school in September!
I have seen both schools and if they were next to each other, I would go for the far school - I was really impressed with the facilities, the atmosphere, the teachers, the space, the organised feeling and the size of classes.
The village school is the smallest in our county, only 35 children in total age 4 - 11 and she would have about seven children her age, three/four girls and two/three boys. It has a lot of parent support and several teaching assistants, seems a happy school, but it is very cramped into three rooms. I am a bit worried that if she is too quiet she will get overlooked in the mix of ages and if she is too bossy she won't have enough other children to 'knock her corners off'.
But as we are just moving into the village (well hamlet really) I would really like to try and be part of the community and send her to school there ... I am just a bit conflicted because I liked the far school so much more.
Also bit worried about this new news that smaller schools could be at severe funding risks under the new Gove regime, and could therefore disappear soon, but that is another story...!
Anyway, all your comments have been hugely helpful, thank you. My husband hasn't seen the schools, so it is all down to me to make the decision and I am finding it such a responsibility - it's scary!

I would definitely get DH to visit both school. It's too hard to make the decision on your own.

LOCAL.

I had DS in a nursery which required driving to. (long story why so won't bore).

I have now moved him locally and the difference has made a life changing decision for us.

My DH has been building a house out near a village (we live in the city just now) with a famously brilliant set of schools (primary and secondery) although we'd have to drive to them from the house.

We were moving out there for a better education for the kids.

I have had a taster of the stress of school runs out of your area.

I watch mums walking the promenade next to our beach to our local school (big primary school had previously put us off). Kids on bikes and scooters all playing together on the way to school. I see how they take each others kids to school and for lunch to their houses. It's got a community feel and the kids all look happy - as do the mums.
The nursery is right next to the school so great if you have more than one.

Where id be moving to, the school is in one village and the nursery in another in opposite direction >shoulder dip.

My mum said these words "you do realise there are four of you in this family, not just two." EVERYONE has to be happy, fufilled and relaxed to make a happy family".

So on that, we are selling our build and looking for a house as close to the big not so good school as possible. .

Hi, just looking back through my posts and thought I would update if anyone interested!
We went for the local school and I LOVE being able to walk there. I am also able to be very involved with it, when I want to be, reading with kids, helping out etc. I didn't realise at the time of original posting, but I was pregnant and am now just about to have DC3, so it is completely brilliant not to have to get in the car all the time.
I actually like the two class system (Reception to age 7, then 7 - 11). They split into small groups for learning and my dd is in with older children for reading which stimulates her. She is now also very confident with all ages and the older ones really look after the littlies which is sweet.
They do wonderful projects which you wouldn't be able to do in a larger school, lovely cookery clubs etc.
ON the other hand....
It has now gone up to over 50 children in three rooms and feels even more chaotic and crowded.
I don't think they read with her enough, she sometimes has the same book for ten days without any comments in her reading log.
I don't feel involved enough with her schoolwork, she doesn't have any homework or anything ... but then she is only 4 and 3/4!

Basically, it is working for now... but we will probably reassess in a couple of years as I am not convinced the education is good enough, however convenient. We will just have to hope that the other school will have room for her then though....

Anyway, thanks to everyone who gave me advice, it was really helpful!

Phew!
I was preparing a post detailing the advantages of a very local school wrt:
Walking to school - independently once they reach a certain age, easier when one sibling is ill and can't cope with a long journey, easier for after shchool activities
Time - so much easier to spend less time travelling every day
Local friends and networks, not just for the children's friends but also school-gate friends
Keeping your local school open, which adds life and community to the whole village.

Being within a 5 min walk of school adds the single biggest quality of life factor to our location (though we are not in a village situation)

I'm pleased it is working out for you.

I'm glad you went for the local one.
My experience is, I live 2 minutes from one infant school. I loved it and my eldest two went there, then the head changed and I was not as keen. I seriously considered sending DC3 to another school 15-20 minutes walk away, but in the end the distance swung it. Then the "new" head left, and it was taken over by the head of the fab Junior school. It was definitely the right decision.
BTW in my kids schools they don't "read to teacher" as often as in my day, but do move them on reading books (pretty much daily) based on the notes I wrote in their reading record. They read short Biff and Chip type books until pretty much when they become free readers, in my kids cases by about year 3. My kids also don't get homework except reading at Primary school, which I love. It gives you time to do other things.

Yes, we didn't push DD2 when she said she really didn't want to do the 11+, but wanted to go to the same school as her sister and friends.
Much simpler, shorter days and a free bus to our door. You have to use the public bus for the grammar, it starts 3 miles away, you have to pay and hang about for it in an evening. Very long days plus loads of HW (personally I did bugger all HW and got very good results so I wonder if this is necessary or just because parents expect it?)
DD1s school is a decent comp with sixform. It gets reasonable results and is far enough out of town it looses very few bright children to the grammar. So long as she gets and stays in the top set she will be absolutely fine.

I wish we did the Oxford Reading Tree Biff and Kipper type books -- unfortunately we do these horrible Dandelion Books - I really hate them!