I have 3 DDs 1 at secondary, one in Y4 and the other just finished reception.We live in a small village and both DD2 &3 used to go to the village school as did DD1 before them
After years of DD2 being bullied by the only 5 girls in her year things came to a head and we withdrew her.After looking at other schools in surrounding villages DD2 decided which she would like to go to .By this stage DD2 wouldn't speak to anyone outside the family.But after a short time at teh new school She became a much happier confident little girl and academically blossomed (after beiing told she was a bit behind at the old school, got all L4s at her new school which I believe is slightly in front of expectations.
The problem is what to do with DD3 who is still at the old school.She is happy there and has friends.Last year she was in a mixed Y1/R class of 19 children.She enjoyed school but made very little academic progress at all.Every week I went into her class as a volunteer to help out (I used to be a TA)I was quite frankly very shocked by the lack of discipline in the room.I also thought, despite being in a very affluent area, that the Y1 children were well behind the Y1s in other schools I have worked in.There are also several very disruptive children in the class and many very pushy/rude children (and parents).
Next year the class will have 3 yr groups in it R/Y1/Y2 (its a small school) totalling 27 children.I think it will be a 3 ring circus as the teacher really can't cope with what she's got at the moment!
i saw some very disturbing things such as at playtime when all the other classes were out swimming, the school gates left open and the TA and teache,r the only 2 members of staff in the school who hadn't gone swimming, stood at the far side of teh field chatting with their back to the open gate and a 'naughty' reception boy hanging about near it.Another time I saw one of the reception boys escape from the school before registration and took him back in.A few days later another parent had found him wandering about near the school having escaped again-twice in a week!
DD3 took a gymnastics badge she was very proud of getting to show and tell,the only thing she had taken in all year, and wasn't picked to show it, but other pushy children who show every week (and have parents who are governors).Another time DD3 had found a 4 leaf clover and waited patiently to show the teacher whilst other children and parents literally shoved her out of teh way to talk to teh teacher, and then the teacher walked off.Not big things I know but DD is so quiet and so seldom takes things in that I thought the teacher would want to encourage her a bit more.Also the other parents bug me they are still standing in the classroom chatting loudly while the teacher is calling the register!!
The 'new school' is OFSTED outstanding, but because of its quite remote location has only 50 pupils.DD3 would go into a mixed R/Y1/y2 class but with only 16 children (but 3 girls and 13 boys).The head teacher runs a very tight ship and the class teachers all seem good and have been there for eons.It is very high achieving academically and despite being very small does well in sports competitions.The disciline seems very good
The downside is
- that she would go into a class with only 3 girls
2)As a family we might become alienated from the village children
30 we can walk to teh current school but 5 mile drive to the new one.
But on the other hand it would be easier to have both DDS at the same primary.
WWYD