Local primary vs private

[Nevesleep]

My DS is 4 we have just relocated , he started school in Sep by our old house (had planned to move in July but fell through). The school by our old house was fantastic it was brand new his year was the first in the school and only 22 children in his class. Im devastated he had to leave .

We now have the option of either a private primary or a local Catholic Primary for January. The private school is approx a 20/25min drive away in rush hour so with parking will likely be an hour round trip twice a day , the local school is a one minute walk.

The local school is good we are going to see it Tuesday, it's pupils perform really well compared to national and local averages . The private school has small classes sizes and offers great extra curriculum , the secondary achool is tiny so I wouldn't send him there. He would likely end up in the same secondary either great local grammar or another private secondary.

Sending him to the private would mean some sacrifices for us. My DF is wealthy so we get ski holidays and a summer holiday every year , but would have to cut back on ones in between we would also have to watch our spend more which we don't do now really. I'm also conscious of the economy job losses etc.

The private school is in a big old house and doesn't have much outdoor space which does put me off a bit , but they use local uni sports halls etc. If we opt for the local primary my plan is to get a tutor, music lessons etc.

Just looking for opinions on what others might do . I also understand private doesn't mean better outcomes, i am sending him there more as I want a nice environment for him.

I'd send him to the local state primary to start with. See how he gets on, whether he makes friends and enjoys himself. You can always move to the private primary if the first school doesn't work for him.

These decisions are always school dependent. Based on what you've said the private school doesn't sound great. I'd also be conscious of the distance as I wouldn't want my 4 year old to spend close to an hour everyday commuting.

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Agree with state primary. Not sure why you’re talking about tutoring. He’s four, he needs to play and be a four year old.

Send him to the local Primary as it sounds fine. He will make local friends and become part of the community. This is important for helping him to settle in your new place. I would hold off on a tutor as if you have the time to spend an hour in the car every day you have the time to help him yourself. Just read to him lots, give him nice experiences, get him involved in local sports and activities. Continue to enjoy your lovely holidays and save for a private Secondary although he may not want to leave all his local friends when the time comes. He will be fine.

“we get ski holidays and a summer holiday every year , but would have to cut back on ones in between”

I really don’t think your child will miss out if they’re going on two holidays a year!! To answer the question, though, if you have a reasonable primary school a minute away, I’d send your DC there, especially as you are in a position to supplement with private tutors, music lessons etc. it’s not just a matter of getting to school, it’s where his friends live, too - if you send him to the private school, you’ll be forever driving to take him to parties/visit friends etc.

The tutoring would be when in he was older to help get him ready for the school exams .

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely swaying to the local primary. My main concern is the making friends for him.

He walked to his old school and I didn't realise how valuable walking to school was.

Id go for the local primary makes more sense. We had a 20 minute journey to our local catholic primary as it was the best school within commuting distance to us, and it is def an hour journey round trip even longer when roadworks happened. Save your money for KS 2 music and sports tuition.

Local school one minute away. Let him be a child having lovely play dates.

I’m not sure what the argument is argument against the local school 1 minute away is
sounds like a no brainer to me

If you are Catholic and happy with the religious teaching in the local primary then I'd go for that. Personally we are atheist and I didn't feel comfortable with the heavy religion taught in our local Catholic schools so it put us off. We have gone private and are happy with the school class sizes and nicer experience, but it's not been too tight financially and I would be more cautious if you are worried about job losses.

Is the old school close enough to commute to?

2 hours a day in the car plus the unpredictability and stress of roadworks/ road closures etc (even if it's in a different area, it can redirect traffic and create horrible traffic jams). I would always go with the walking option. Added bonus if it's free.

@Meadowfinch ". You can always move to the private primary if the first school doesn't work for him"

Or vice versa of course.

Local primary, local play dates, local extracurricular activities and clubs, local friends for life if you stay living nearby.
All that extra time in your day not needing to drive to school and back twice.
Would be a no brainer for me. And you have lots of time to think about where will suit at the next stage

The parking situation at the private school sounds like an utter nightmare and worth doing a lot to avoid, unless it has a carpark that's genuinely big enough to take all the cars of school runners. If it hasn't, you'll need to get there very early to find on-street parking, as there won't be enough, local residents may well be pissed off and shitty parking by others (eg too close to junctions) will mean congestion and an unpleasant walk. I expect the private school will have broken up by now, but if it hasn't, go and drive there tomorrow morning and see what it's really like.

The state school sounds fine, but if for any reason you decide it isn't, you could move schools at 7/8+

DS is at a private primary but in your situation I would try the state primary.