Would you move your kids from a good school to an outstanding one?

[LingDiLong]

Just pondering really... When we moved to this area 5 years ago I didn't have a car so we went for a walkable school with a good inspection report. The kids are now in year 1 and 3 and are very happy there; lots of friends, teachers they like and respect and never a complaint about having to go. Academically they're doing ok. It's obviously not a 'pushy' school but neither are they languishing without any stimulation. However, I've recently been picking up a little girl from a school 5 minutes away by car (I'm a childminder) and it's outstanding. The grounds are amazing, they run forest school (and properly too) and the little girl appears to be ahead academically of where mine were at that age. Although obviously she could just be brighter!

I'm not seriously considering moving my kids but I have to admit I've pondered it lately. What puts me off is the risk of potentially making my children unhappy in the pursuit of academic success at such a young age. I'm interested, what would everyone else do in this situation?

Although it looks like the grass is certainly greener at this school, (quite literally) it might not be right for your dcs anyway for many unforseen reasons. My eldest started in an outstanding nursery attached to primary schoolv but it wasn't right for her so we moved her too a "good " one instead and she loved it there.

I think children cope better with change than we think, but since there is no pressing reason to move them I would let them stay where you know they are happy.

i wouldn't move from a school which happened to be labelled 'good' to one which happened to be labelled 'outstanding', but I might [and have] moved a child from one school which was damaging to him to another which was excellent for him .... though both had exactly the same Ofsted grade.

It's always difficult, however, looking at a school from the 'outside', especially if your experience is via a child different from your own, as it doesn't necessarily show how YOUR child would do there.

Why not have a proper visit to the other school? Have a look round, ask about the experience for children similar to yours, have a really good nose around. If what you see is very clearly 'up a notch' from where you are now, then that would be a good reason to go for it. Grounds and forest school alone, unless they were consumingly important to your children or educational philosophy, are not 'big enough' reasons to move, and i certainyl wouldn't move for an Ofsted grade alone.

(Especially as the criteria for an Outstanding school in December 2011 would only get a school a 'Good' today... so the date of an inspection is important, as an 'old' Outstanding and a new 'Good' are pretty much equivalent.]

Thanks both. Good points. Yes, we are a very different family to the mindee's family. So what suits them might not suit us at all. We're in Wales so Estyn rather than Ofsted but agree entirely with your point teacher - having read both the inspection reports for my kids school and the other, it was difficult to compare because they are very different in structure as one was written 4 years before the other!

Not sure I'm even at the nosy around stage of pondering, just mulling it over with DH.

The Forest school aspect would attract me far more than any ofsted grade.
But how would your dds feel?

Go and have a proper look at the other school and see it through your eyes as a prospective school for your children, not as the school you pick up from.

Personally I would be cautious about moving children from a school if they are happy and thriving. But the Forest aspect sounds so tempting!

Just too add -check out how often forest school actually happens.

Its only a handful of times at dc school over the course of the year.

Carling, I'm not sure how the kids would feel. I expect they'd protest at leaving their friends. Wouldn't like to raise it in case it worries them!

I think it is the breadth of experience/learning the school offers that I find tempting. My children go to a very traditional school. This one embraces new methods of learning and teaches them about different cultures, offers a variety of new experiences. Perhaps I need to ensure that I'm giving my kids these experiences and learning opportunities at home - they are both really interested in the world/history/different cultures and religions.

Blue - the school backs onto a forest so they go weekly for 1/2 a day in infants and a full day in juniors.

Hmmmm, I would think carefully. Are your kids happy and stimulated at their school as well as having friends and being settled because it's where they know? Are they excited about school things, not all the time, but at least sometimes? Would you mind driving everyday (I think I would unless it was completely necessary).

I think that word "thriving" may be key. Are your kids thriving? If not then definitely look round the other school and weigh up the pros and cons. If yes, then don't move as there will be good and bad about both schools, you probably haven't discovered the bad about the fab school yet...

And yes, if they are happy and you are happy enough with the current school you can tweak your family life to encourage the things the other school encourages.

Thanks Tgger. Yes they do get excited about school things - my youngest has been learning about the Celts and is fascinated. Had a book about Celts as his bedtime story tonight! DD has also come home talking excitedly about various subjects.

I am tempted to have a look round the school now, just to satisfy my curiousity if nothing else!

go look round.

If my kids were happy and seemed do be doing ok, I would be reluctant to move them tbh.

*to

I wouldn't move a child who was happy and doing well unless there were very compelling reasons. And I don't think any of your reasons are good enough tbh. Also bear in mind, that moving school will in itself have a (short term) negative effect while the children settle in, make new friends etc.

Is this your regret at not having been able to get them into a top performing school ?

I moved to get the kids into the best school but I knew that move was on the cards from the day I was pregnant. School admissions doesn't magically crop up and I think you make decisions and stand by them, unless truly needing to move.

At the age of your kids, it is more about where they will study aged 11 plus and whether you need to move to get into that catchment area. If that decision also provides an answer to your current question, then all good.

I recently moved dd from

a school that was

good when we looked 3half years ago but was downgraded to satisafctory last term to a another smaller primary that was rated good last year.

But that wasent my main reason for moving.

A lot of people say ofsted a snapshot on how that schoool is on that 2day visit but last ofsted focusssed on low attainment and poor teaching.

I then compared sats, parent comments.

the old school wasent doing well compared to many local schools .

But again thats just academics.

My dd is very sporty loves all sports which old school dident do.
They had no afterschool clubs at all which they gave impression they had when we looked around.
Their style was very strict, autocratic and dd was starting to hate school and was falling behind.

There was low level bullying and some cliqueyness.

she anted to do instrument which she couldent do until year 5
most schools year 3+

she had a few freinds at old school.
The school had lovley buildings, huge feild playground some may think me mad I gave all that up as from outside looking in looks perfect-hence why think grass is always greener its easy to look as outsider and see the positives.

I actually think in some areas schools bit like houses you can fall in love with 1st impressions but you really have to do some digging.

new school 3/5classes they have are portacabins
they have no feild-they have village common for sports day and junior pe.
Hardly any play equipment
no school garden
2small yards.
mixed classes throughout.

but they offered

more trips
after school clubs
music

they utilised every facility and space they have that old school took for granted.

On topic of forest schools-they seem very trendy latly.
Just before we left newsletter came out saying the year 6teacher is training and they going to trial it initally reception /year 1 but mine was year 2 and knew it would take time and got feeling it would be amateurish attempt to impress current and prospective parents.

During summer -not sure if you ever read primary times mag used to come free in book bag. Three weer 4 differnt forest schools that run holiday clubs. I recently found 1 lady who does forest schools very cheaply think dd would love her new school doesnt offer it. Anyway put her name down for net year when weatehrs back shes running them 2hours every sunday in local woods.

I did lots during hols museums are free, crafts at libary, doing projects on things that interests them we did butterflies and visted local butterfly farm.

Also tried a few mad science experiments off you tube.

So loads of way to enhance their education without moving.

Especially if yours are happy and doing ok.

Newbiz, no, not that situation at all. I'm in South Wales and we simply don't have the same problems with accessing the school of our choice here. Schools are generally good and the majority of people go to their local one. I've never heard of anyone not getting into their school of choice actually. The 'outstanding' school just wasn't on my radar - perhaps because people really don't talk a lot about school admissions, it's not a big thing at all. No 11+ here either.

Mam, that's really useful thanks. I think I can offer them plenty without moving actually. I might still try and have a look around the outstanding school at some point though, just to put my mind at rest.