Help! Need to make a decision about DD1's school by this afternoon...

[dontrunwithscissors]

Yes, I know it's ridiculous that we still haven't decided, but we're in such a quandry over which school to send DD1 to.

School 1: in catchment area, bursting at the seams, good inspection reports and generally said to be a good school, really difficult to get to.

School 2: not in catchment area, has recently been refurbished and extended so has spare capacity, newer and better facilities, easier to get to than school 1, better inspection reports and we think it's a better school.

All things being equal, we'd put a placing request in for school 2, but we're worried about her being isolated on our housing estate, given that the majority of children will be going to school 1.

So that's really my question: do you think that the need to have school friends in your surrounding area is a big deal? Is it enough to play a big role in deciding which school to choose? We're concerned that, at school 2, every time she wants to play with her friends we'll have to drive her there and back.

Arghhh!

my DD is in year 1 and doesnt go to the "local" primary as I didn't feel it was the best option. She attends school in a village just over a mile away. There are no children on the part of the estate we live on but most of her school friends are only 1 mile away, so not that far really. We've had her friends to play here often enough and it's not been an issue - in fact its quite nice at this age that her friends are not just stopping by every few minutes just because they live a few doors away.

This might well change as she grows, but certainly during reception year and so far in Yr1 it hasnt been a problem. Shes happy and doing well at school with a good circle of friends.

She is going to be at school most of the day, every day - I say choose the one where you think that she will happiest. Yes, you may end up driving her round a bit more later on - or finding school 1 difficult to get to; but where she will be happiest will be best! Good luck!

My DS is at a school 5 mins walk from my house. While most of the pupils live within walking distance too, his two best friends are within driving distance. So even if you go to the closest school, there is no guarantee that you won't be driving her around!

Go for the school that works for you and her best which sounds like 2.

I was going to say what Patti just said - going to the local school does not guarantee local friends, in my experience. Go for whatever school you think would best suit your child.

Thank you, all. You've confirmed what we were thinking, but we had a last minute wobble. Both schools are about a mile away, but the one in our catchment area is a nightmare to get to. My gut feeling is that school 2 is the better fit for her and us. Of course, we'll have to cross our fingers that she gets in, but our catchment area school is so full that I suspect they'll be happy for someone to not want their child to go there.