Proposed new primary school

[Itspardonnotwhat]

Hi

I'm a long time lurker and was hoping to get some advice. We live in a small village in the south east. There is currently no primary school for our village and our two catchment schools are in the adjacent villages, in opposite directions. Both schools (indeed most of our local primaries) are hugely oversubscribed. For example, in what would our preferred catchment choice school, 54 siblings didn't even get places this year. The other was also vastly oversubscribed.

The local authority is currently looking at the situation and one of the proposals is a new primary school in our village. The first meeting of the working group is tomorrow and my husband is attending as the chair of our local village preschool committee.

We've been discussing the proposals tonight and I'm finding it hard to articulate in a meaningful way my gut feeling which is one of concern and objection to the proposal. I think my feelings centre on the fact that I assume - rightly or wrongly - that if the new school is built, the catchment schools for our village will change leaving us with only the new school. Whilst this may well resolve issues at the two other schools, and will undoubtedly be welcome to parents in the two other villages, it leaves me with a sense that our children will be "guinea pigs" at a brand new school and especially if parents continue to apply for the other two schools and end up at this one by "default". If it was an established school I know I wouldn't feel this way but we have no way of knowing how successful this school will be etc etc.

I appreciate and apologise for the fact that this is a very wooly scenario at the moment but the whole area of primary education is a new one to me. I would appreciate any thoughts/comments that others more experienced than me in such matters might have on the proposal, particularly if you think there are pertinent questions that need to be asked and addressed at this stage as the proposals are being developed.

Many thanks

I would just be thrilled, what could be better than a local school in your own village? Why would it not be successful - they will be interviewing and appointing the best. It is a great opportunity to start afresh so will attract the best. Get on the governors and make sure it is a success.

It is very negative to think they would open a new school to be worse than the existing ones!

Agree with Exoticfruits.
I'd see it as a really positive, exciting thing to happen.

I agree. It must be very stressful getting a school place when the schools are so oversubscribed. It sounds as if another school is completely necessary.

A purse-built brand new school will be fantastic.

How old are you DC, OP?

My children are at a school which was "new" when DD1 started. In reality, it was formed after three existing schools closed, so we did have some idea about some of the staff etc. So not exactly the same situation, but I do remember being in that position of not being sure what we were getting.

It's been great. And it's been exciting to see how the new school's ethos and confidence have grown over the years. Everything is up to date, there are no hang-ups about "we've always done it this way" and the building is gorgeous. It's really hit me, going round secondaries to look for a place for DD1, that they've been totally spoiled, having their primary education in a spanking new, modern-feeling building with all the facilities.

I agree with exoticfruits. You or your DH need to get yourself on the governing body if at all possible and get stuck in. Make it a success. And be glad that you won't have to fight all those other parents from the other two villages to get a place for your child.

I asked how old your DC are because it is going to take a few years to get from this working-group stage to a fully-functioning school. Your DC might be at secondary school by then.

spanking new, modern-feeling building with all the facilities

Yy, my DC experienced this when their Comprehensive school was rebuilt. It waa a real improvement for staff and students.

Do you not like the village/inhabitants where you are? I think that if most of the people at the preschool etc are nice and your dh is in the running to help set up the school then it could be an incredibly positive thing, your children and their friends can all play and learn together. Don't forget at the moment the children who are helping to make the other schools a success. Maybe you could see if the new school could be linked with the other two successful schools to mirror their good practise. I can see that it is the unknown, but probably better that than the real risk of your children having to travel miles to a school in special measures which has spaces.

Unfortunately it will take some years from planning to opening. But money will be spent on it -everything will be new- wonderful! Greet it with open arms!

Sorry meant to say the children from your village are helping to make the other schools successful.

A new school is little more of a gamble than parents starting at DDs school face.

Huge numbers of experienced staff leaving and classes lost. It won't be the school my two went to

But who knows in a year or two it may emerge invigorated and full of life.

One of the existing schools may get a new Head and entirely change within the next couple of years. Nothing is static.

Morning

Many thanks for all the comments.

MrsB - My DC are three and a half and one. It has been said that if it goes ahead the intention is have it ready for admissions in 2014, so whilst my oldest would miss out on joining in her reception year, I would expect it to be the (only) realistic choice for my youngest - and then we would need to consider whether we wanted them to attend two different schools (ideally not) and consider moving my eldest. Yes, the admissions process here is currently very very stressful. Anything that eases that has to be a good thing.

Exotic fruits - apologies for coming across as negative, that was not my intention at all. I agree that there are many, many positives that could arise from a new school, but there is always another side to things and I also wanted to explore the downsides so that we could ensure that these are addressed through the consultation process. I was also interested in trying to work out why my initial feeling towards it was not wholly supportive. I don't think that they will be opening a school to be worse than the existing ones, rather it is the unknown that I am apprehensive about.

3duracellbunnies - Gosh, yes I do like our village and those who live here. If I'm honest, we suffer from it being the same people who are always involved in the running/volunteering of things iyswim. I say suffer insofar as sometimes it would be nice to spread the load as, for example, it's the same faces who migrate from the NCT committee, to running the playgroup, to being on the preschool committee etc etc . (and I include myself in that!) Don't get me wrong though that's no bad thing and we have some really good people and ideas.

Great idea about the governing body, thanks for suggesting it, I will definitely try to take that forward.

I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of the first meeting this afternoon and I may well be back with more questions. Many thanks for your advice so far.

The problem is that any school will be unknown a few years down the line. A new Head can (and generally does) change everything. You can't know that the school you like will be the same in 2014. On the governing body you get a say in appointing staff- and the staff are all important.

The split sibling issue is a tricky one which should be discussed. One option is to see if the school can open to more than just reception year in 2014. Some schools just open to reception year, but others open 3 years up, so one near us will be open to all children starting school in 2011 or later. It also depends on the admission criteria for the other schools, do they put catchment above siblings? Also you need to realistically think how likely you are to get your dd1 into either of your preferred schools if they are so over subscribed.

I know what you mean about the usual faces, but you may find that when it comes to schools other people will emerge. For example parents working FT might be very concerned about their child's education and willing to be govenors etc, but not engaged in the preschool/ p+t circuits. It is obviously tricky, but as long as they do agree to open more than one year it could be great for you in a few years time if you don't get either of your ideal schools.

Its hard to say what will be like.

But think most la need to build new schools
not keep building bulge classes.

I went to village school at 5.
we lived rural so mini bus took us there,.

it was an awful primary.

when we moved at age 7 i was behind.
most my cousins went their.
my aunt moved hers as felt school was rubbish and commute was worth it.

my ex went to village school was really lovley.
but the next 2villages nearby their schools shut down
loads of new builds were built including housing association.
old building knoccked down
super primary built in its place.

yes its new building
but ethos and size totally different.

we outer suberb of city.
one nearby village-use word village loosly as more another suberb as citys expanded and new houses been built. lost their orimary few years ago was relocated nearby in new housing estate which now classified as its own area.

now the actuall kids in original village cant get in.
its oversubscribed.
They keep building new houses without any consideration for schools.

Our new build community primary-closest to my house.
yes looks nice just dident have right feel.ethos too big.

but do agree schools can change my 3rd choice just 3years ago is in special measures now.

Theres brand new school opening city centre linked to the most popular secondry im considering for younger 2 if means they can stay ther until 18 but my eldest wouldent be able to move as starts reception and works upwards each year think most propsosed new schools have done that un less they old schools conjverted into academies or merged schools with new building.

On a positive its good to get involved now.
the people in village shape what kind school they want.
but also clarify admissions.

I imagine a new build be easier actually as hardly had any time to build up siblings policy if that makes sense.

The new school im considering applying for has been given go ahead.
wont open until 2013 and im applying 2014 unless all the 2013intake have siblings a year apart i could stand better chance.
My 3rd is 20months gap and 2nd sept so just missed intake so they will be school year apart so hoping sibling applies.

most of primaries here are 50%siblings which makes it hard with eldest or only child.

good luck.

Ah, I had wondered what they did about how many years intake but didnt know what the options might be. A good point to explore.....(will prime DH for this afternoon!).

The admissions criteria at the two existing schools are slightly different, I can't find easy reference to one of them online just now but I'm pretty sure it is SEN/looked after etc, followed by sibling, followed by catchment (though there has also been talk of changing that to sibling in catchment, then sibling, then catchment). The other school is an anglican church school and is looked after, followed by siblings in catchment, then worshippers in catchment, then worshippers outside catchment, then siblings outside catchment then simply catchment. We would only qualify in that final category as we are catholic....It has varied wildly in previous years how many are admitted in that category.

As people have commented, I know we only have a slim chance of getting into either of these schools. Our next choice under the current situation would probably be the nearest catholic primary which is about twice the distance away from the other schools. I'm realistic about it and know that we might not get any of the ones we want and that this proposal has many many positives, not just for us but for the area as a whole. Letters have gone out to all parents with children who will be applying for entry in 2013 today inviting them to a local meeting later this month so it will be interesting to see the views that others hold locally as well.

Of course a new school doesn't resolve the problem of admissions for 2013 so it'll be interesting to see what short term solutions come out of the meeting this afternoon as well.

Again, thanks for comments, much appreciated.

Something similar happened round here (city though, not village). A new school was opened very quickly and its actually FAB!

Though, I did think it wasn't currently possible to open a "new" bog standard state school - I thought the government currently only make it possible to open a satellite school (i.e an annex of an existing school in another location) or a free school or academy.

The school they opened here is a satellite of an existing school. I.e The Blogs School at Smith Street...

The are phasing the years in though, so anyone with an older child can only get their youngest in. Not a major problem as siblings are high on priority so they are more or less guaranteed a place.

A new Primary opened in our town, originally meant to only take YR, but quickly expanded that to all year groups. It opened as a 210 pupil school, covering YR to Y6. Three years down the line, it has 410 pupils, and is the Go-to school in the area. We are now waiting on another new Primary, meant to be opening for 2014 for my DS3's intake, and it would become my DS3's catchment school.

It's already a year behind schedule, won't be open till Sept 2015 now, and the area is going to be 157 places short for DS3's year in YR.

The LA are mooring the possibility of sending those 157 pupils to schools in the next town over, 30+ miles away. As all the village schools in between are constantly oversubscribed and have no room for bulge classes.

I would welcome a new school with open arms round here, it would mean that DS3 would have far less chance if being sent 30+ miles away in a taxi and me being unable to ever take him to school or pick him up when he is ill.

(DS3 will have no sibling link to the school his brothers are at due to age gap).