Choosing a primary school

[Pochemuchka]

Have been to look at a primary school for my DD today. All schools in the area are 'outstanding' although I don't place that much emphasis on Ofsted reports.

I came away totally unimpressed.

HT had a terrible attitude to SEN and diversity (it's quite a MC white area and this school is the most diverse in terms of socio economic/ethnic background which I was pleased about) and kept bleating on about the local area and how privileged everyone is so there isn't much 'riff raff' in the school (not her exact words, but the gist)

The children all looked miserable and the emphasis was far too much on compliance and there was no 'buzz' about the place. (I know it's end of term)

She also skimmed over the one area I feel is really important - social development/emotional well being etc. as far as I'm concerned if they get that right everything else follows. Her answers to questions about that were sketchy at best. There seemed to be no creativity either.

So, am I expecting too much? Are all schools like this? What should I be asking when I'm there? I really wanted to speak to the reception teachers and the pupils but didn't get the chance. Is this an unreasonable request?

Am really worried that all the local schools are well up on their Ofsted but have no other substance to them.

You would of thought that there would of been a buzz about the place, i mean it is nearly xmas and dosen't a school have children in it?!. I have viewed 5 as my son wears hearing aids and the difference in the schools that were interested and those who felt that it was a bit too much bother was astounding. I have gone with one that when i walked in i felt so at ease and welcome in, i spoke to the teachers and even the secretary, my son stayed and played in reception while i looked around and when he came to find me the teacher was carrying him over (which i loved even though i know this will not happen in sept!). Go with your gut feeling....

That's exactly it cathpip - there are children there but you'd never have known!

I want DD to love school and for it to be enriching not about results and ticking boxes.

Glad you found a nice school for your DS and hope he has a great time there in September.

I am truly shocked by the attitude the HT had towards children with SN (like they are an inconvenience) and felt annoyed when I was looking at the work on the wall and the 'star of the week' was a little boy with SEN who had his work displayed next to his picture - HT quickly jumped in to make sure we knew it wasn't a representative sample of that year's work as he is a child with 'some problems'

We're right on the edge of catchment for all three schools so I'm worried that we'll end up getting stuck with a school I'm not keen on.

So much to bloody worry about!

I think your gut feel and your impression of the staff is more important than if the school is good at box ticking for OFSTED.
We've gone against the grain a bit by not choosing the naice white MC school with a glowing reputation locally, and chosen a school with a much higher proportion of ESL, SN, FSM etc but which is a more "glowy" place when you go and look round. So far we've not regretted it (yr1). I'm a bit exhausted trying to keep up with all the extracurricular stuff, performances, dressing up for x, charity day for y, making z out of cardboard boxes....
Both schools have overall "good" OFSTED - I'd look a bit more closely at the reports and see what criticisms there are. Another thing that swung us was that the "naice" school was criticised for not extending bright pupils - they get everyone up to the expected level but no further - whereas the school we chose has similar results overall, but a much bigger spread, reflecting the very varied intake - but the bright kids were flying high and they were all making ggod progress sometimes from very low starting points.
V lucky, BTW to have a choice of 'outstanding' schools!