Moving primary schools

[HayleyBay]

My eldest is still at nursery but due to start school this coming year.

Where we live at the moment we are in the catchment area for a pretty rough, massive school. The house we're in is for sale so we're going to be moving once it is sold (but we don't know how long this will take).

Where we're moving to (about 30 mins away) is in the catchment for a tiny school with around 30 pupils in the whole primary. It is often threatened with closing due to its size. I can see the advantages of this school but I do worry about its limitations.

Eventually we'll be moving again (I would guess in around 3-5 years time) to a third location which will hopefully be our final move. Its catchment school is alright - not brilliant, not awful! But I don't think we'll get a place until we've moved within catchment.

We've tried for an out of catchment place for a nice school which would be doable from all the places (and near my work) but been turned down.

I worry about my kids potentially moving primary school 3 times. Would I be mad to consider home schooling until we're settled in the final location and can get into its catchment?

If you moved primary school or your children have moved, what would your advice be in my situation?

We're quite antisocial, introverted parents and I really don't want to get this wrong for my kids!

I wouldn't consider the first move as a real move for your child. It's no different to a child being in private nursery and then moving to reception.
We moved house when our child was in year 3, ensuring to move with enough years for a decent friendship base to be created prior to going to secondary school. It's all worked out really well.

Whereabouts are you? In England applications for primary do not close until January with allocations in April,

I think your concerns are sensible and legitimate. What I'd keep in mind is that what you NEED from a primary is for them to learn to read, write, be numerate(ish) and socialise. The majority of schools will do this or you can support the first three you self . Far better to base your decisions on a great secondary school imo

My dd went to a tiny primary, they only had two classes, ks1 and ks2. It was fantastic, very nurturing, all pupils very accepting of each other as less competitive when you are in class with children of different ages. I don’t know how they manage to tailor the teaching to each child but they do and my dd did very well. She is now at a huge secondary who have put her on their gifted register.

House for sale now should hopefully know what state things are in for a potential September Reception place (how have you been turned down for a September place already?)

If you are moving imminently at that point, I'd be tempted not to start reception.
But if things are still up in the air come September, you might just have to go for it.
Look at what might happen in 3-5 years much nearer the time. That might not happen on the timescales you are expecting.

I guess I'm saying make the choice on September for what you know is happening August time. It's quite a long way away!

FWIW, both my 2 did 3 primary schools (well, 4 if we count the disastrous 3 weeks we spent in one school after the first international move - don't worry, you wont find school like that in the uk). DS2 was in reception at the time. Both have said they don't want to move now they are in secondary. They are both doing great.

We're quite antisocial, introverted parents

I am not anti home ed - it wouldn’t be for me but I know some really make it work - but this statement alone would make me think it would be a bad idea to be honest. Good home education should be about the freedom to be exploring the world, not avoiding it.

I'd apply for the school in location 2 now and potentially home educate until then if its only a few weeks.

But not even think about location 3 until it actually happens. Things change!

DD1 went to 5 primary schools, DD2 went to four. Some moves were better than others. One for DD1 was a complete disaster. But overall the range of schools has been positive.

Apply for school in location 2 with a note saying that you are in the process of moving. The admissions team should keep in touch with you to check on progress- they did with us!

We're in Scotland. It's across two different admissions/council areas which seems to further complicate it.

Location 3 is a definite as it's the only one we own, but it's still just a plot at the moment without a house.

It's the social aspect of home schooling that worries me.

I wouldn’t home school when they can go to a primary that has 30 kids in it. Surely that’s better? If it closes you havent lost anything really and can home school then if there’s no other option.