Very tiny schools? Any experience?

[ShanahansRevenge]

DD is in year 2 of a very small school. She is very happy there, there are 11 in her class...6 boys and 5 girls.

As they progress through school, quite a few kids leave to attend private at junior level...or they move house etc.

I am worried though because 2 of the 5 girls in DDs class could move next year....and this will leave only DD and 2 other girls.

It's omplicated really...on the one hand she is so happy and doing s well in this lovely little school, but on the other hand I am concerned about her having a decent choice of friends.

My Mum is of the opinion that it's fine as it is...not broken so don't fix it.

But I also wrry about secondary transition...how will DD cope going from this small and very close knit school where all the years muck in together...to some massive school? Where there will be more in her year group than in her entire current school?

I feel irritated that just because 2 other girls could leave I am feeling insecure about our choice...what would you do?

DD has always had her name on the list of an outstanding and larger primary in the next village....she is top of the list now and I suppose a place could be available for year three...what should do?

This is getting to me now! I am reluctant to ask the parents of the girls in question outright...as though we are friendly...and the kids get on well..their plans have nothing to do with me...

The girls in the upper school seem to do well...they all seem to go to secondary just fine from this small school.

Any advice or experiences would be so welcome!

I went to a tiny village school. There were about 25 of us in total.
It was lovely, lots of chances to do things and take responsibilities which might not have been available in a larger setting.
I didn't cause me any particular problems settling into my large local comprehensive (intake of 250 a year).
If your daughter is happy, thriving and having plenty of learning experiences then I'm not sure what the school is doing wrong?

p.s. you can see my whole school photo on my profile.

My view is the opposite to piprabbit - my DS went to a very small village school and I was not that happy with it - not enough people to be friends with, very cliquey, everyone 'knew everything' about you, everyone from the same social background, few sporting opportunities - ie: not enough children to make up a team, very few after-school/extra curriculum activities. Just not enough children to offer enough of a 'challenge' for a reasonably bright child -NOT saying my child is gifted in any way but he was one of the brightest but no one to 'compete' with - we moved him to a larger school and we are all much happier - a wide range of friends, lots of sports and activities and he is happily 'in the middle' academically. So for our family - a bigger school was better (still not big by many standards - one class per year).

I went to a tiny school too. There was only 1 other girl in my year and about 3 boys. I hated it and going up to comprehensive school was very difficult as everyone else seemed to know each other. What does your dd think? ? Does she want to go to a bigger school?

My dds go to a small school (80 children), dd1 is in year 2 and is one of 12 children, dd2 is in reception and is one of 4 children and the only girl, reception, year 1 and year 2 are in the same class (24 children). There are good points and bad points, all the children know each other and the older children look after the little ones, on the down side there seems to be one group of girls in dd1's year and dd1 does not really fit as she is a tom boy, there is a lot of bitchyness (sp) between the 5 girls in dd1's year and not a huge selection of other girls she can play with.

We are considering moving them to a slightly bigger school next year.

There seem to be up-sides and down-sides.

DD goes every morning with a big grin on her face...the school makes a lot of effort to involve the kids in local nd county compeitions for choir and recitation. Te sporting thing seems fine...they have team for soccer and DD is not the sporting type...they have after school clubs and she loves those. She also goes t gym and has cousins who se is close to.

But the downsides...well I mentioned those...the only thing DD says is she would ike t g with her friend who may change next year...and that's not possible as the school her friend may go to is VERY expensive.

The SATS results and ofsted at DDs sschool re very good indeed....many kids get scolarships to private schools when they leave.

I suppose I will have t play it by ear...if she gets a place in the next village then I would quite probably send her...but if not...well...maybe a case oftaking the rough with the smooth.