I need to decide before tomorrow. Help!

[springlenner]

DS(4 1/2) started in Reception in November ( we had moved from abroad) Lovely local state school, excellent Ofsted, great reputation, lovely stroll through lovely neighborhood to school every morning. Nice parents, since we are brand new to the area, delighted to recently have started making friends via the school. It is in short, your perfect local community school. Love it.

However, it was our second choice, our first being the local Catholic school. We are Catholic although I am not particularly religious. DH is also Catholic and we both had Catholic educations.

Today got a letter offering DS a place in the Catholic school. I need to call LEA with my decision tomorrow ( 5 working days but it's dated 31st January)

The Catholic school is also excellent, I visited it a few months ago and got a lovely vibe from it. It's smaller than the state school he's in now. Ofsted is also excellent. We could walk him to school in the mornings although it is a little farther and in the city centre so no parking to talk of.It has lots of sports, he's very lively and I think would excel at sport.

Overall I think it has the edge on the state school in terms of what we ideally want in a school but not by much. I am reluctant to move DS from a school he has settled in but he's a very adaptable sort and has only been in the first one for 3 months.

Aaargh, so little between them. Can't decide.. any help?

Make a list. For and against moving him. Then sleep on it.

I suspect the decision really rests around how much desire you as parents have for your child to have a "catholic" school education.
If you do not feel strongly then my temptation would be not to move your son, as you and him have just moved into the area and are now making friends.
Another thing that you should take into consideration is what your thoughts are over secondary education. If you have ideas of a catholic secondary school then a catholic primary school is probably best, but if not stick with what you have got.
Do not feel bad about rejecting the offer of a place. It happens all the time that parents who did not get their first preference start at the second preference and then realise that it is a really good school and do not then move when a place becomes available.

my view is not to move him - he and you are happy and its the nearest - they are all big factors - I would think it makes no different to catholic secondary if gone to catholic primary - its whether you are practising or not that would make the difference

Thanks for your input. Yes, veering towards staying put. Will have to wait for DHs opinion. He's away with work.
AnOtherName, I think I recognise your name from the Cambridge local?
It's between Newnham Croft and St Alban's

I agree with anothername its your cathlicity points that will get him in to a Catholic secondary and if you are thinking of a central london catholic secondary - you need lots of points - start flower arranging NOW plus volunteering>. My child is at an excellent catholic primary and totally miserable. If your child is happy then DO NOT move him. He can go to additional catholic school on Sundays that is what happens at my church for the children who do not attend catholic school.

Don't know those schools -I am afraid - further out - although think I have seen good things about Newnham Croft on here. Re secondary - may not be relevant but I think there is only St Bede's as catholic secondaryi in Cambridge which is also CofE... Also my experience re sports that there are loads of oppertunities out of school in Cambridge

It is NOT necessarily thè fact that you are a practising catholic that will get him into the secondary - I know of at least one city where you have to be in one of tha catholic feeder primaries to get in, so check before you decide not to move if catholic secondary is what you want!

what a dilemma - i know its a long way off but you have to consider the secondary school. my ds went to a catholic primary school and when he came to year 6 there was really no choice - 1 boy in his class went to an indi school - rest went to local catholic secondary school. do you fit the criteria, ie at present primary catholic schools are not as 'strict' with the criteria - they will ask that child is baptized whereas secondary, baptizm will have to occur within early part of their life (canon law). Also, there may be feeder school criteria as well as what you (and your child) does for the church. I was pleased with the primary school and secondary but wonder if it limits the choice.

Thanks. we are probably going to leave him where he is. We've had a lot of upheaval in the last few months and he is happy in the state school. It feeds into an excellent comprehensive.
Re the catholic school, there isn't a local catholic secondary so it doesn't directly feed into any of the local secondaries that I can tell.
He was baptised soon after birth so that's no problem.
Ofsted reports are similar for the two.

On balance so little between the two of them I have decided he should stay where he is.
Thanks for your help.