Help me choose a primary school! (because I can't :-))

[lucysnowe]

Hi all!

I know this sounds pathetic but I would really like to hear other people?s views on the choice of schools we have for DD. I am finding it really hard to choose and am feeling a bit bowed down by the weight of responsibility. So any advice would be really welcome. :)

The choices, these are them...

School no 1 - big (400 pupils), non C of E, catchment, reportedly very friendly and with lots of stuff going on. A big playing field, forest area (!) and swimming pool. DD currently goes to pre-school here, and I know quite a lot of mums who will be sending their DC here. Less than a mile away so we could walk. BUT on the open day I found the teachers a bit standoffish - none of them talked to us - and the headmaster a bit too focused on results rather than the children (that was my impression, anyway). Also it has recently gone from good to satisfactory in its Ofsted report, mostly on the academic side, particularly maths apparently.

School no 2 - C of E school with a quite important focus on Christianity, 200 pupils. A really nice atmosphere and the children seemed very friendly and chatty. A good Ofsted report, outstanding in the Early Years Foundation Stage, especially good at reading. There is also a big focus on music. Also got playing field, quiet garden, etc. BUT it is too far away to walk (out of catchment but as we?re churchgoers we may still be able to apply ? it?s over subscribed though), and I have heard of one mum pulling her DS out because he was being bullied.

School no 3 ? tiny (80 pupils) C of E school, but not so ?religious? as no 2, in catchment, with a good Ofsted report. Everyone very friendly, children very charming, parents get involved a good deal (is that a pro or a con?? :) ). Small classes (2 years to a classroom). But there isn?t really a lot of space and due to a lot of pupils leaving for prep school, the last two years make up around 10 altogether. Again, I know of one mum pulling her child out due to bullying. Also not walkable.

As for DD is quite loud, bouncy and ebullient, above average in maths I think, about average in reading etc (she knows most letters but not words). Quite musical, and I?d like her to become more so. I don?t think she would have much problem fitting in any of them really, although she may be a bit loud for the little one. I'd like her to have a religious upbringing but with a definite focus on other faiths (or none).

Feel free to tell me I am being super picky/should stop reading Ofsted reports etc - thanks a million!

Sounds like you like Option 2 the best but are not sure whether you would get in. Might be an idea to try and find out what your chances are of getting in there. Would you have problems getting your DD there if she did go there ie would you be able to drive her there or is it that you would ideally like to be able to walk to school.

Sounds like you quite like option 3 but are concerned with the reducing numbers as children move up the school.

You don't sound like you like Option 1 much at all. I would say it would be good to have it on your list (how many do you get to select on the form) but only if you would be content for your DD to go there.

I'd go to the one you can walk to.
If he's not learning anything you can always (hopefully) move him at year 1.
We chose a school we could walk to, they're so tired after a long school day that being able to get home and to school quickly made so much difference.

Since you are churchgoers I think 2 sounds like the best option. Then probably 1. I would be worried about why so many people remove their children from school 3 as they go up the school

We do have a flow of pupils to prep school at ours, it may be a reflection on the school, but also parents who think about private but can't face paying for all private education will swop at 7, especially if child is bright and gets bursary. We however get influx from other state schools which don't have such good reputations to replace, so class sizes high. If surrounded by fairly good schools that may not happen, but I agree worth investigating. As far as religion goes, our is a non-denominational state school, but they get quite a lot of religious education, mainly christian, though do cover the exciting bits of other religions too. In addition their assembly always has a prayer and often amodern kid's hymn. The main diifference to local CofE schools seems to be no grace at luinchtime and no classroom prayers. I think though if you want a religious education you will also be teaching things at home and church too, as it will always be a comprimise at school.

Again, as you are churchgoers, I think school 2 would suit you.

I think school 3 is just too small and would worry about the lack of space for a 'loud, bouncy and ebullient' child. Also, if she is musical, there are not really enough children for a decent choir or other musical activity. It also sounds, by the nature of the catchment, that many parents are using this school as a pre-prep, which means, not only tiny year groups at the top of the school, but also that she could lose a lot of her friends at age 8.

As long as I had transport and the journey was not too arduous, in your position, I woud definitely put school 2 as my first choice, followed by school 1, then school 3.

Thanks guys. Well after doing some research it does seem as though no 2 is beyond our reach - siblings and catchment only got in last year. We can apply anyway - am I right in thinking that you don't get penalised if you don't get your first choice because the schools don't know what order you put them in?

I would like to walk ideally Suitable tho we do have a car because I have a young DS (2 months old at the mo!) and hefting him in and out of cars would be a pain. It's not a great deal tho.

I do agree with you about no 3. It does have a few clubs and a little choir but obv can't offer the same opportunities as the other two. Forgot to say that no 1 is pretty sporty - doesn't interest me much but DD is tall for her age (and as I say, bouncy!) so she may appreciate that. Also interesting what you say about the religious aspects of non-dom schools, bunnies... I guess I will have to ask them about that.

You're right, you won't lose the chance of school 2 by putting it 2nd, you are ranked for each of your preferences.

school 1, sorry!

School 1

I spent my entire school life commuting to school. All my neighbours went to closer schools (until high school) they would go to friends houses after school while I was catching a bus accross town (school bus) which also meant that by the time I'd got home the neighbours kids would be having tea and by the time that was over it was too late to play with the neighbours.

At the weekend I would find out that there had been birthday parties or some other joint activity I had missed.

I'd probably stick to No1... Being able to walk to school is a real plus in my opinion.

I'd put down no.2 as your first choice on the off chance that you get in and no. 1 as your second preference. I think no.3 is a bit too small especially for a bubbly child.

Stick with 1. Walkable school is so important and a bubbly child will take advantage of everything they offer.

3 - No!
DDs school has fluctuated between 80 and 100. 80 doesn't work. We loose TAs and get wide variations in year group sizes.
20+ to 8 or 9.
We also loose pupils to private schools, more randomly with respect to age. We've had both older children leave and family's of 4 all go at once. A real shame because this has lost us bright motivated children and the best and nicest PTA chair we've ever had.
We have two years to a class, but some groups are big enough to be friends mainly inside their year, but others aren't. One class this year is all girls (the only remaining boy left). If you don't like the other two your age it can be very difficult.

Thanks Raspberry. Have horrible flashbacks of putting Cambridge on my UCAS form, getting rejected and then having all but one of the other unis reject me as well. Still hurting from that one :)

startail interesting what you say about the friends issue. DD is bubbly and friendly but I would worry that that might be seen as a bit annoying by her peers after a bit. Whereas in a bigger school she would necessarily be toned down a bit. And as I say there was a problem with bullying in that one.

Am really appreciating all your comments! Getting easier to decide now!