- which would you choose for your little one(s)

[Deedadee]

scenario 1 - 3 minute walk to both infant and junior school, Offsted at average grade of 3, school on the up with new headmistress that has some great ideas
or
Scenario 2 - 15-20 minute walk to infant school with further 20 minute walk to junior school (both children will be at either school by time second one starts school), better offsted with grade average of 2, with a headmistress that has been there 10 years that has a very settled, well run school.

I would prefer a nearer school and I would prefer a combined infant and junior school. I wouldn't bother too much about the Ofsted rating or how long the head teacher had been in post, but I would want to go and have a good look around at both schools to get a feel for what each one was like, to better understand the ethos and values of each school and to evaluate the "fit" with my child.

I think there are clear pros for each, so I would visit them both and see which one felt right for my DC

(I would also take into account my actual chance of getting into the schools as well, how over subscribed is the further one from you?)

Thanks for your responses so far.
We have visited both, and the nearest one is much larger and spacious with a great outdoor space. I also went to this school when I was little so I have very fond memories.
The furthest away is much more compact and my initial reaction is how organised it is and how they seem to have it all sorted and working like a well oiled machine. Does that mean that the nearest one could or would not be as efficient for my child?.
Am I just being to picky with my choices? Most of the schools in Bath are great so am I making this more of an issue than it needs to be? If you were ask me independently of how I feel about school choices in general I would say that all children should go to their nearest schools and be around children from their local community, so why do I find it so hard to put that into practice?

Also from the stats we would have got into either of the schools every year up until last year where there was a baby boom issue!

so from predictions either should be an option but nearest would be more likely .

x

nearer one.

I think it would take a lot for me to discount the nearer one.

My advice is to visit both and make your own mind up - don't take just the view of OFSTED...

In your position, the only thing that would have put me off school 1 is if I had looked around and absolutely hated it. As you not only liked it, but also have happy memories of attending this school yourself, it seems the sensible choice, especially as it is infants and juniors and you have 2 children. The other positives are the enthusiastic new head and the amount of space, including outdoor space. Whilst a school has to be competently run, I don't really think primary school education has to be efficient, as such.

CecilyP - a primary school education HAS to be efficient (well organised). It is a key feature of a successful school. I'd be more inclined to choose school 2 myself - there's a lot to be said for a school with an established head. But that head may move on, who knows? Could you drive to school 2? It's good you're not anti school 1 but do bear in mind that it takes a new Head time to really turn a school around.

if you are asking what i would do, then option one has it for me.

But it is your choice in the end.

OFSTED, they are useful but not the be-all

magdelene, I know a school has to be run efficiently, but when OP asked whether school 1 would be as efficient for her child, it did give the impression thinking in terms of a factory production line. Obviously, if the head of school 1 was a totally ditsy scatterbrain, then I would go with school 2.

Sorry CecilyP just speaking from the experience of someone whose child is not in a well run school. The negative impact on the children is enormous. Not all well run schools have to be like factory lines but you are right when you say this is what school 2 sounds like. The well run schools I've been into have a lovely, calm and happy atmosphere because there are clear guidelines about behaviour, high expectations of a work ethic and an excellent office team. This benefits the children because they know what the expectations are and it makes them feel safe. In such a positive environment, children work much better.

Option 1. In fact, we did choose Option 1, out of a very similar range of choices. That was six years ago - have never regretted it and it's fun being part of a school that's on an upwards curve.

School my dcs are at is 'average' according to offsted, but I rate it way higher than that. My dcs are happy & stretched & school is inclusive, friendly & child centred. However, a while back we moved into a house in the catchment of the 'outstanding' school. I had a crisis of confidence & wondered if I should change them & now I'm so pleased I didn't, that school may have great sats results but also has a terrible bullying problem. Know I made the right choice.

Think about where your dcs will be happiest. The difference between an average & outstanding school, can sometimes be a school still striving to do it's best & a school attracting creme de la creme on it reputation alone & resting on it's laurels!

Given you like school 1 and it has a new head I would definitely go for that. The fact of the junior school being 40 mins away from you and 20 mins from infants would make me discard it unless it was the only option.

Thank you all for your posts. School 2 was very warm and inviting and not run like a factory production line although i can see why my post may have mis leaded you on this, the children seemed happy in both but we had more interaction with the children in school 2 so i think we would say they were happier. can you really tell by one visit?

I am thinking what the children would be like after school more than anything. Do kids just want to get home or would they be able to manage a further 20-40 minutes walking around? I am thinking not. also the closer school would mean more time in the morning to get ready for school and relax before i bundle him/them off.

I want to go with the closest school but i feel like i wouldn't be giving them the better education but thats only going by ofsted reports which cant be the deciding factor imo. Obviously if the ofsted was really bad then i would have an issue but actually they don't say anything really bad at all.

davina x

We also have a similar scenario and went with option 1. I found it very hard, and didn't sleep thinking about the 2nd class education I was potentially inflicting on my child. However, as others have said, ofsted isn't everything and I decided that option 1 was better for my child. Ofsted don't know my child!

Is it 20/40 mins walk at your pace or a child's pace? Alone I can walk to our school in 10 min. For the school run with one in yr 2, one in r and a 2yr old in pushchair I have to allow 1 hour. For school run. You have to allow for someone to forget gloves, someone to fall off scooter, bumping into friends and dwardling because it has been over 12hrs since they last saw each other. Making sure you get there just before bell goes. Going into playground (only in yr r at our school), saying hello to HT at gate. Getting child into line, waving fond farewells, accepting paty invite, dropping consent form into office, talking to other parents on way back about the little darlings, picking up dropped teddy, getting in taking coats, shoes off etc. It does sound mad, but it usually does take an hour, add to that the possibility of different drop off times in different places, and they may start juniors earlier so the youngest would have to go all the way to junior and back.

If you go for option 2 you will probably drive at least some times some of the way. I'm not saying don't do it but you need to account for possibility. The other option to consider is when children older if you want to work which would be nearer. We had two nearby schools, we prefered one, and though about 100m further walk, it is also much closer to town for potential jobs (10min walk compared with 30 min walk).

TBH after this year's intake being so large I wouldn't have thought you'd have much chance getting into a school that far away.

Are you able to say which schools they are?

DS goes to a junior school that is 35 minute away. He cycles (mostly) or walks with no trouble. DD (in Y1) also manages the cycle ride (though she only does it twice a week). Good few children walk/cycle from even further off. Bear in mind that by the time your oldest gets to juniors you'll know other local parents and be able to share school drop offs. For me the distance isn't a problem for a junior school aged child, but I would be loathe to drag my infants age child up and back every day.

Do you live in London Tallulah? Free choice of first schools up here!!

No, Bristol.

Nearer one. I would rather my dc were at a school on it's way up than one already at the top, that may or may not go downhill. And don't underestimate the benefits of being at your nearest school.