Deadline for primary school apps is hours away and I still can't decide – anyone there to talk some sense into me?

[Bitzer]

i can't believe it is the night before I'm due to put the form in and i just still can't decide but that's the situation so hoping MNetters may be able to help me see straight.

We're very fortunate in having 2 decent primary schools close by to choose from. DD1 is in the nursery class of one, it was in special measures until recently following quite a few leadership issues but has turned around v quickly, got a good ofsted report last year and looks set to continue improving. The other is a bit further along the road, in terms of SATs results it's considerably better and sits about 20 places above the school DD is currently at in the borough league tables. It gives the impression of being a bit more sound academically and a bit more traditional in its approach but has a slightly less friendly vibe about it. DD1 is very happy where she is and her best friend is there too, which would completely take the edge of any difficulties settling into reception, whereas I've no idea how she'll settle at a new school where she doesn't know anyone.

Choosing the school that, out of the two, with significantly worse academic performance feels really counter-intuitive. But as this is my first child to start school I've no idea what a big deal starting reception is and how valuable her being happy where she is could be.

People keep telling me to go with my gut instinct but I just don't have one. Would be v v grateful indeed for any guidance

Well we have also put our form in today, we delivered it by hand as we also had a faith form so couldn't use the online option (at least not in our area anyway). I also did a last minute visit yesterday and spoke to the school directly about my concerns, they were able to fully address them and I left feeling as though this one (that is where my DS goes to nursery) is the one to go for. I had been concerned that they were overly competitive but they reassured me that it is the strengths of each individual child that is nurtured and that despite the fact that they have very succesful sports teams in their primary they are also very focused on arts and music (and you could see all the visual displays to support this). The class teachers and headteachers were all very accomodating and it just felt right, in contrast to the other school that we were considering whereby there was not a nice feeling at the school gates at home time when my DH went to check that aspect out. I am really happy with our choice which considering just 24 hours earlier I felt almost sick with the worry of not being able to decide is absolutely amazing.

Good luck bitzer and anyone else still debating.

Glad you're also sorted confused person. Wonder if northcountrygirl is too?

Oh this is killing me. I've got two schools. Both over subscribed, both good ofsted. One better academically. Smaller, better facilities, nice uniform but Catholic with extreme prejudice and the other is big, not much outside space, nice feel, OK academically, lots more families from deprived area and a bit chaotic.
DS is a summer baby and most people we know will go to the bigger school. He's a bright little button but not good with strict discipline and big groups of people.
Agonising is not helping either. Need

radiohelen I feel your pain :(. It is so difficult isn't it? Have you been to both schools?

When I was thinking through my decision the one that I chose I had built up in my mind to be over-competitive and only for really academic ones. When I visited last minute on Thursday again I realised that a lot of that was what I feared it was, it was actually so lovely, everyone was so welcoming and talked at length at how they nurture each child to develop them to their full potential. I realised that a lot of my fears about that school were actually unfounded.

Do you think that your DS will need a stricter discipline to help him fulfill his potential (you say he is bright).

I had looked at one school and athough it was really friendly they were struggling with space (no hall of their own had to walk to local village - think wet weather when you can't do pe outdoors) and I think they were making do with facilities and perhaps this took a lot of their time. Whilst I was in no doubt that the staff were incredibly dedicated you could see it was slightly chaotic and I knew that wouldn't suit my DS at all.

You say the Catholic schools shows extreme prejudice - is this something you have witnessed or is this scaremongering by others (I only ask as I know people in my area talk of certain schools in such a negative light but it's not necessarily reflective of how they actually operate).

Finally you say both are oversubscribed, How likely are you to get in to both?

HTH

Yes think I've finally made my decision as I haven't changed the order of my preferences for 2 days now!

I've gone for the school with the nicer uniform and the school bus that stops outside my house . DD will only know one boy but hopefully, she'll soon make new friends. There's a girl in the year above who gets on the bus who she knows as well. It would have been nice (for me too) to go somewhere where we already knew a lot of people - including her cousines - but I do have a fair few problems with that school. It has a seperate entry junior school which she may well not have got into as there are a lot of houses being built closer to the school. Also I can't stand the head of the junior school. Really, really can't stand her.

Still stressing though as now I'm really worried we won't get a place. We are in catchment but it's nearly 2 miles away and now it's gone up in the league tables I think it will be more popular and I'm worried there will be 90 4 year olds who live closer....

cousins even. See - the academic school didn't do much for me!

northcountrygirl you remind me so much of my own thoughts

Glad you're sorted, I have to say once I had settled and gave the form in I was like desperately wanting that school and even though before I thought we were pretty hopeful for a place at our first choice I'm now thinking I'll bet we don't get it .

When does your LA issue the decisions? I think ours is 23 April - i'll look out for where you get

Good for you guys. I have decided for less academic, non-faith, very lovely school but thinking that old fashioned catholic highly academic school could possibly give more prospects for my boy.. but also did not like the head and the school, I only liked it on paper...
Still got 24 hours and my DH calls me crazy.

confused i posted on your thread. Sounds to me like you would prefer the choice you have made already but are keeping your options open right down to the wire - I in effect did this but because of the faith application paperwork only being able to be submitted by hand or post we delivered it yesterday which was therefore in effect the last day. And now it feels like such a relief. Not long and you'll also feel the relief hopefully :)

We get our offer on 20th April - hopefully I can put it out of my mind 'til then!

I've also got twins transferring to high school so will no doubt be worrying about that too! That should be OK though as there's not really many houses closer than we are to the high school and they take loads - I think it's 260 or something. HUGE school!

Really hope the youngest gets into first choice school though. I've been thinking today about really quite petty things - like not having to iron "proper shirts" as the school I want wears polo shirts, not having the nightmare over parking as she'll be on the school bus, no "small talk" in the playground, how much my daughter suits red. And the schools all new and shiny so doesn't have that "school smell". Plus, all the staff I've spoken to (and I really have bugged them a lot over the last couple of years) seem really nice and friendly.

LOL my 2 look fab in red too! (I also opted for the nicer uniform - but not for that reason!).

Yes I am trying to keep an open mind now and remind myself why I was debating it all for so long as like you I think i'll be gutted now If I don't get school 1, which makes me wonder why I tortured myself for so long with the decision

2 hours here until the deadline, and I changed my preference again. DH has convinced me to drop all perfect, lovely school for the other one, less lovely, more academic, the main reason being convenience to go to work.

DH is probably right, but my heart sinks that I cannot chose that 'perfect' school, but we would struggle to get to work in time, and I guess that's important... Ahh I am going to cry!

Confused, does the perfect school have a breakfast club? Would that work for you?

Have been lurking - re submitted my application two days ago to make sure I had electronic confirmation, but we've chosen our village school, so hoping there aren't a lot of siblings this year.

It does have breakfast club, but as it's opposite way from our regular station, and we will have another kid to drop at a nursery, it would be still tight.

Ah no! I thought you'd made your decision?

Wrap around care is important though. I would have had perfect small school preference number 3 as my first choice had it not been the lack of after school club - so sympathies...

read the ofsted reports and see what score they get for safety of children etc. it is easy to make up academics at home with help, but you can not make up for rthe social/safety side of things.

Ha ha I am becoming a joke (at least to myself). Could not sleep, went online again and changed to the "perfect" school. At least the deadline is tonight 23:59 and my torture will be over!
Checked wrap-around childcare again, and as no nursery around opens before 8am, we would still be stuck even if we choose the more academic school.
Thought I can always get a bike and take DS1 on bike to the "perfect" school :) then rush and traffic jam problem will be solved (seems like a joke but why not).
Hey it's midnight!! Yey! No more thinking about schools until April!!!

I must have been the most "confused" person in this process.. :) 5 mins after midnight, and I feel happy. At last.....

It does have breakfast club, but as it's opposite way from our regular station, and we will have another kid to drop at a nursery, it would be still tight.

Shit - you're right! I thought I still had tomorrow to fanny about.Was gonna change my 2nd and 3rd preferences but I guess it's now gonna be "as is"

northcountrygirl I hope you will get your 1st preference.
I am so glad that the admission process is over. I am happy with my choice and it is such a relief. As others say, I don't know why I toyed so much around with my preferences!

Glad you're sorted confused. As you said it is a good feeling to have gotten the choice of preference out of the way.

Now we can stress over whether or not we all get 1st choice