How to choose a primary school

[Rosebud1302]

Hi all,

Can I have some tips on what to look for when picking a primary/infant school for my then to be 4 year old? Of course I am aware that each child is different and people like different settings, but just interested to hear if people found specific facilities or settings more appealing over the course of 6 years. Or alternatively what to avoid?

I am finding the decision so hard, I have no idea which school to put.

Ps of course I am aware that there is no guarantee I will get anything other than my catchment school. I have read the process and understand all of that stuff. But a lot of the schools in my area have accepted outside of catchment for years so I think I would be silly to not consider them.

Advice welcome! Thanks :)

Big/small
Religious/secular
Walking distance/driving
Friends going to same ones?
Ofsted
Word of mouth

Never underestimate the importance of having a short journey.
Don't go just by exam results. The ones currently published are pre Covid and there may have been a cohort with more additional needs or ESL than usual.
Visit schools and get a feel for them and trust your instincts.

My tips.

1. Be realistic. Sounds like you are being, but don't forget to list Catchment school somewhere on your list.
2. Remember you are choosing for a 10yo not just a 4yo.
3. Think about travel. You are going to do the school run for 7 years (more with siblings!)
4. If extra curricular clubs are a priority, look at the spaces available... the school might have loads of clubs, but spaces being limited mean they can only do one, and maybe not their first choice.
5. Look at SEN support. You may not think they need it, but there's no guarantees. Some stuff isn't obvious until a bit older.
6. What support is there for children struggling not with work, but with friends, family issues etc?
7. Progress statistics.

My children have been at four schools. Each has been good in various ways, not so good in others. If I was choosing a school now I'd chose walkable, 1-2 class intake, decent sized grounds, forest school programme at least in Infants if not throughout, and with programmes to encourage the older pupils to do leadership activities with younger pupils. Plus good pastoral and SEN support.

Walking to school is a huge plus IMO.

Visited, checked wraparound care available and it's on DH way to work. Was actually 2nd on our form but i'd dithered on which to put first and to be honest, this is the right school for DS
I've been a teacher and TA and volunteered in primary schools that on OFSTED, don't look great, but in practice are so lovely and do so well for their children.

Be realistic about catchment areas and any future siblings.

Originally we sent our eldest DS to out of catchment nursery. He didn't get into the primary and we were tempted to appeal. But we knew that even if he got in, there was no guarantee our youngest DS would get in. I didn't want them in separate schools. So we sent them both to the catchment area school.

It's all well and good looking at league tables but look what's behind them. My old high school was notorious for getting excellent GCSE exam results. Because they didn't let anyone with less than predicted grades of A-C sit the exams.

Closest with good ofsted reports was how we chose. One they're in is not the closest one to us but that one had rubbish reports so was a no go for us.
Been easy to get siblings in the same school and they've all thrived there.

Insiders perspective:

• Small schools = great sense of community, but larger schools often = better resources and multiple classes mean you can split children according to personality
• Look for stability of staff, low turnover means leadership are good and staff generally go the extra mile
• Outstanding to OFSTED usually means a lot of hoops have been jumped through, not always for the benefit of the children
• A high % of SEND often means a very inclusive and supportive school, but it can also IME be tricky for those children who just need a little extra support. I’ve taught a fair few classes in my small school where most of our time went to supporting eight or nine very needy children and I felt terrible that I wasn’t able to boost the others who needed it
• Look for a practical, no fuss uniform; in primary we do a lot of active learning, and restrictive shirts and ties don’t lend themselves well to this
• If you need wraparound, make sure to ask the head of it is sustainable, as in will they be able to afford to keep it running

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for all of your input, it's really interesting to read. And also interesting about the walking distance being a fairly unanimous one. I guess my other issue is that we plan to move in the next year or so, same town but no idea what area yet. I definitely like the smaller one or two class intakes. My son is fairly socially shy and I think he would struggle with a bigger school. I also absolutely want a forest school and emphasis on outside play (luckily a lot of the ones around here seem to offer that).

Another question - parents whose kids went to smaller one or two class schools, how did they find the transition to secondary? Particularly the less socially confident ones.

I mean outside learning/chances to be outdoors!

My son is in reception now and the most important things to me are -
Location
Approachable, friendly, helpful staff/teachers
Facilities and playgrounds

:)

If it's anything like me you don't get much choice. If you're not in the catchment area for your preferred school, you don't get in and will be given the next option.

We’re a drive away because we wanted a larger school for ‘quirky’ DS1 as he’s brilliant at some stuff and rubbish at others…so he’s always got someone at his level with a three class intake. Talk to the ahead…highly recommended small local school was an instant ‘no’ when the Head cheerfully told me that ‘all our Mums come to a weekly assembly’ and when I explained I commuted to work he (a) suggested I change my work or (b) send a grandparent - on being informed that I was the breadwinner and the grandparents weren’t local he went very quiet.

After school club - unless you work 9:15 to 2:45 it seems quite important. We moved and went through an appeal to get into a school (which failed Ofsted) just to stop having to use taxis to get DS1 to an after school club

These are some things that I thought about many years ago. Some may not be relevant, but others might be. The main thing I always went on was gut feeling.

Visit during an ordinary school day (bloody Covid permitting), not on an open day. Open Days are fine as a way to see pretty much the whole school, but you get a much better feel for them on an ordinary day.

What's the head like? Does s/he engage with your child, or is s/he a bureacrat?

Do the children in the playground look happy?

Is there access to green space?

What's the extra-curricular provision like? (Sport, music, drama etc).

Do the children behave well in the school? Do they hold doors open for one another and for teachers/visitors/ancillary staff?

What's the dining room like? Do the older pupils have jobs (table clearing, sweeping etc) after lunch? Do the children eat in forms, or in houses or in some other way across the year groups, rather than just with their own age group?

Do the children look well turned out when they're on their way to school? (probably not on their way home, with socks round their ankles etc).

We won't be looking for a few years yet but looking at our current job situation (which I don't see changing) our number 1 priority would likely be breakfast club (morning club of some sort). DP starts work at 8 and I work in a school and have to be at work by 8:15am so some sort of morning childcare will be essential.

The best advice I can give is to remember that it’s not a choice so much as an order of preference. Look at what’s available to you, what’s most likely to get you a place, and list according to preference but being realistic about where you are most likely to be placed.

In terms of distance - a lot say within walking distance, but also consider whether you're happy doing that in all weathers. If you're going to want/need to drive on occasion, what is parking like? Our neighbours moved in across the road so they could walk to the catchment school but id say on average they only walk half the week because life happens & they can't get out the door etc in time to walk & parking is a PITA at that school. We chose a different school & it has a village car park so parking isn't an issue but we do have to drive (5mins on country lanes).
If you're interested in forest school, swimming etc, ask how often your child will get to do it. Our catchment school made lots of noise about offering onsite forest school & swimming, but when asked we were told it was for 1 term every 3 years; so a total of 2 terms each for the duration of their time at school!
If wraparound care is important ask about places, how to apply, how they're allocated.
But honestly, if you can visit them all & see how they feel.