Special Measures: Would you move a child?

[Tomatillo]

DD is a very young (still 4) Yr R. Her school has been in special measures for a term and nothing much has changed. She's my PFB and having initially been very pragmatic and thinking it will all turn round, I've been getting cold feet about next year. We've been all but offered a place elsewhere but I can't decide what would be best. Would be really interested in hearing how kids have got on moving at this stage. Here are the two schools, they are both in adjacent 'nice' villages with pretty much the same catchment type:

School 1 - in special measures for a term. Utterly awful OFSTED. Everything slated esp KS1 teaching. KS2 SATS results below average for several years despite being 'easy' catchment. Head has gone (no new one yet) but all governors the same and all teachers the same in same classes. BUT very warm, friendly school, she is settled with the kids she went to preschool with (though no really close 'best' friends). Hopefully new head soon and the interim head seems good.

School 2 - OFSTED outstanding for years, perfect KS2 SATS, slightly smaller classes, warm and caring atmosphere, good drama, music etc. BUT all of those kids know each other well, we would have to drive (5-10 mins), no popping down to friend next door for us (but would be for most of the class)

What would you do? School 2 is clearly a much better school at the moment but I'm not sure whether it is worth unsettling her as, of course, schools do change....

Sorry for long OP but would be really interested in any experiences.

I would move her. DD1 is now yr 2 and has had quite a few children come and go from her class. None of the new ones struggled with settling in.

The only difference between the schools that is insurmountable is the distance - if driving for 10 mins (bear in mind ice, snow,flat-tyres,petrol etc) is going to drive you up-the-wall then keep her where she is.

If your happy to drive.

friends - she can still go to others after school 2 - you just collect her from their houses, be prepared to drive her friends home after play-dates at yours.

popping out independtly to play - she can do this with old friends for school1 - no need to stop being mates just because of going to differnet schools - in our village the 17 children that play after school attend 6 different schools and home education.

A school in special measures is likely to improve, a school that is Outstanding may well fall to good at the next inspection - have a look at inspection dates on the Ofsteds' - when is the Outstanding school due for their next one, would it bother you if the didn't sustain being outstanding ?

DSs school was in special measures a couple of years ago. There was an exodus of parents who re-located to other local schools.
The HT had left - governors were the same. LEA poured in shed loads of £££ and support and found a good interim HT
Roll on to now. Out of special measures early. Some 'old wood' left and were replaced with fresh green branches! Lots of the exodus children are trying to return. Their parents are accepting a place for each of their children as spaces become available - and having to do 2 school runs as a consequence.
Think hard - weigh up pros and cons - and whether if you move, there would be possibilities of moving back if things don't work out. If KS1 is fine, you have a couple of years for improvement - a lot can happen in that time.

Local school went into SM. Stampede to other schools.
Within 3 yrs folk were stampeding back.

Well you know what I think ;)

Honestly I know it is a really hard choice to make. I wouldn't worry about the friendship groups, never been a problem with new children who may or may not be in the village coming in, if you do opt to move I would be very surprised if you had any issues. Your distance from the village is par for the cause in a rural catchment and your dd won't be the only child not in the village (not be a long way) and parents are very used to working play dates around this however parking can be difficult (but not impossible) and that is something to consider when it comes to day in day out year after year.
The Ofsted report is 4 years old and not sure when will next be inspected as last year had that 'nothing has changed so we aren't going to inspect you' letter from ofsted however nothing has changed apart from the few little issues that were sometimes frustrating but have now been largely sorted. Yes there is a big change come September but the realities mean little will actually change.
Going to drop you a PM as wanted to ask you something, had opened the computer to message you and saw this lol!

Our top chocie school involved a drive, we did not list it in the end as we moved into a urban area so we did not need to drive (unless we wanted to) but it meant commiting to driving again...

on one hand perhaps that is selfish, but then you have to weigh it all up, I really like the fact we will be walking to school, it is a tradition that has sadly been lost somewhere

Thanks for all the replies. Realistically we are looking at a decision that will potentially last a decade (younger children) and it's impossible to judge the likely success of both schools in that time frame.

auntevil- sadly KS1 is the worst problem and so she'd be going straight into the problem years. Some parents of children a couple of years on feel their kids have been fine going through but others are taking them out as they feel the children have stayed the same/gone backwards in KS1.

Roadkill - you've spotted me! Haven't seen a PM from you today. DD had a wonderful time at her taster day and says she's happy whichever school we go to.

I would move her. If the school went into SM and nothing much has changed after a term then I would move. Our school went into SM when my eldest was at the end of reception year, (I was handed the ofsted report putting us into SM at my very first governors meeting) within weeks lots had changed - the whole senior management team and several of the governors including the chair went, and within 14 months the school went from the verge of closure (the only positive comments in the ofsted report were that the kids liked coming and teaching of music was satisfactory) Over the years the school has gone from strength to strength and the last ofsted rated us "good with outstanding features" I kept my son in the school because I could see the changes coming and I'm very happy I did. DS2 has since been through the school and DS3 is now in reception and thriving there.

Hmmmmm, there is a lot of research showing that the home environment is a more important influence than school up to the age of 7. So....for me it would depend on how confident you felt to fill in the gaps of any weak teaching she had in KS1. If you are confident and are award of the weakness then probably I would keep her where she is. If you are not confident then move her.

aware that should be.