What order would you put these schools in

[benetint]

I think we've just about got our list, we just need to decide on our order of preference!

School 1 - our closest school although not actually catchment. Was in special measures, now new head and completely turned around sat and ofstee wise. New head has reputation of being a bit arrogant and big for his boots. He doesn't meet prospective parents himself so when I visited secretary showed me round and I didn't meet any teachers or see any classrooms. So hard to get a good idea.

School 2 - catholic school (i'm catholic), in an affluent area, excellent sat results, good ofstee, excellent local reputation. Again hard to get a good impression when I went round as shown round by secretary who although was really nice she couldn't answer my questions.

School 3 - catholic school, serves deprived area, gets even better results than school 2, lovely lovely teachers, great impression on looking round. My favourite but dh concerned its in a dodgy area so dd wouldn't make the kind of friends he'd approve od

Thanks so much again for your advice, it's much appreciated! Yeah good idea about putting catchment school down too just in case. We're not keen but at least it's better than a worse school miles away. So it's 3/2 then 4 then 1 then catchment! I actually get 6 choices so I'll research another one too.

So it's really between 2 and 3 then. 2 has a really good local reputation whereas I've never heard about 3. But 3 did seem lovely.. And it had an attached nursery which dd could go to to prepare. And a great secondary, unlike school 2. But as you say that could change.

Yeah good point about 4 being a different community, I looked round and it was so lovely too but I guess I should really consider that. I wouldn't mind the 15 minute drive in the slightest but I guess it's better for dd to have more local friends in the long run?

Aaargh its coming to crunch time and I still can't decide! Help!

I visited them all again. School 1 is definitely out (oversubscribed) so its between 2, 3 and 4.

School 2 just seemed, cold. I don't know why, I can't describe it. I just didn't get a very good feeling. But the parent report on ofsted is amazing and the school has paid for all sorts of statistical surveys to be done, proving how happy to kids and parents are. One thing that put me off is the head was still unavailable to show us round. He was supposed to show us round the first time but got called out on an "urgent meeting". This time it was a finance meeting. My two friends visited on separate occasions and were told he was at a business meeting and then an observation. This just makes me a bit suspicious. Should I trust my gut, or listen to the fantastic reputation it has? Something else that worried me is there was a bullying incident there (allegdy racist) a few years ago and the same Head and teachers apparently let an injured child sit through lessons all through the afternoon because they were "too strict to listen". I would like DD to attend a preschool linked to the school he'll go to but I'm really not keen on this preschool either. I just feel a bit crazy dissing this school because everyone says how amazing it is! The secondary school attached is better than others in the area.

School 3 was lovely again. Really nice teachers and a buzzy, dynamic feel to it. But if I'm incredibly honest (don't hate me) the area does worry me a bit. The buildings around it are all boarded up/have smashed windows. There is rubbish all over the street and there were two few pubs, which on the day I visited had a couple of drunk men staggering round outside (around 2pm). I know this wouldn't affect the school/teaching but I don't think I'd let my DCs walk home on their own in future. I spoke to my neighbour who said they get really good KS2 results at level 4 but they have 50% EAL pupils and spend a lot of time bringing those pupils up, so level 5 attainers get "lost" (apparently the head herself told her this, but I am dubious...) Currently an AMAZING secondary school attached with guaranteed entry if you attend this primary. The preschool seems nice too but has 40 kids, which seems huge for my shy DD!

School 4 is lovely lovely lovely. Such a nice head, such a nice setting, calm lessons but happy kids. Lovely preschool attached. But 15 minutes drive. That's the only problem. All kids travel though (teeny village so only a small percentage come from it). Oh and the secondary that's attached is quite average (at the moment).

I'm so tempted by school 4. But I feel so ridiculous bypassing so many other schools a lot closer, with better feeder secondaries. And its just primary right?

Reading all your responses back you've made me want to go for school 3 again (thank you again by the way for replying to me). WHY IS THIS SO HARD?!