Large town school or small village school?

[Zeeky]

We are relocating and have a choice of two schools that both have a place in reception for DS1. I visited them both on Friday and really liked them both but they are totally different to each other.

One is a large school in the local town - approx 80 kids in reception divided into 3 classes, and class sizes throughout the school averaging 25. The other is a small school in a nearby village with only 15 kids in reception and class sizes averaging 15. They were both well maintained schools with happy looking children. I also liked the heads at both schools.

Really torn! Would like to know if others have ever had to make a similar decision and which one they went for. I'm finding it hard with no prior knowledge of the area and schools to go on ie reputation, word of mouth etc

Personally I'd prefer the town school. Purely based on personal experience of cliquey villages and their schools. Proximity to home an issue, maybe go for whichever one is closer, better for socialising- you and dc.

Are you sure it is just 15 in a class further up. Here it is common for village schools to have 15 in reception then combine yr 1+2, 3+4, 5+6 etc. You need to enquire, as then you will have one teacher for 30 children across 2 years.

Which ever is in walking distance. It will make it so much easier for your kids if they have school friends that live nearby/on the same road as you.

The village school is large enough to have a separate teacher for each year group which is good.

The town school is walking distance whereas I would have to drive to the village school.

There is another village school nearby which is where all the children (bar 1) from the village we will be in, go to, but it is full with a waiting list. So whichever school we choose, he will not be with children from our particular village.

All the small village schools locally have to transfer back into the town for middle school anyway! So maybe it would an easier transition for DS to be in the town schools from reception.

I agree. The one that is within walking distance. If both, then do you know where your neighbours' children go? If pushed, I would go for the larger one.

It sounds like the town school would be better. Also 25 in a class is a nice number for making friends but still small enough for individual attention.

Thankyou everyone for your help. I think I have decided on the town school - it's walking distance & has more facilities than the village school (big library, computer suite, music room etc). I think in the long term it will also be better for DS as the middle school that all the local schools feed into, is adjacent to it, so that transfer will be pretty seamless for him as opposed to transferring in from a tiny village school.

All your comments really helped me clarify my thoughts so thankyou :)

was joining thread to say town school! sent mine to village school, never again

Tell me more ninah...

We relocated and I thought the tiny village schools (30 pupils total) would appeal but they seemed so quiet in comparison to the larger school
Of 120 pupils. The bigger school has been a great success; they can offer do much more from a popular choir to all sorts of clubs. The tiny schools often attract many special needs children, as the more family atmosphere and less busy pace suits some children.