thoughts on very small school

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My DD is in reception at our local school, it wasn't our first choice and not getting great results, but we went in fully prepared to support the school, they said all the right things and should have improved. They have actually gone backwards and fully expect them to go into special measures (been on notice to improve) - as a teacher sm would be best thing for school, but as is an infant school by the time that pays off our children won't be there. My DD while happy enough there, is bored and has not progressed at all (i assessed before she started, not just her but others in the class).

Now looking at other schools the only one with space (shes on waiting lists for others still) is 8 miles away and a primary, but only 45 in the whole school. It is average but improving and seems much better academically than where she is now... but my concern is it being so small, f, y1 and y2 together in the afternoon, do ds would be in the same class when he would go.... thoughts much appreciated!! xx

I've been looking at a small school too, but wary of funding changes that will disproportionately affect small schools from 2014 (I think ?). So interested in any answers you get too. Have you seen:
www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/feb/15/education-funding-rural-schools-

No experience of sending my children to a small school but i went to a small primary school of about 40 children and i absolutely loved it. There was literally 2 classes - infants and juniors but i don't think it affected my learning in any way - i eventually gained 11 GCSE's A-c, 3 A levels, a degree etc! It also didn't affect my transition up to a bigger secondary school. HTH.

Thank you :) Am going to visit after half term, there are 3 classes and 36 in the school, 6 in reception...

I found that small schools tend to have a fantastic community spirit and pride in themselves. The children take on more responsibility for each other and often have more ownership of their learning as it's more practical to cater for individual choices when there are fewer children.

I'd want to be very confident in the head and the teachers though.

My friends child attended a school that small but sadly the other kids in her year group were awful and quite nasty. She left in year 3. My sons school is about 90 and we have similar issues, I wish we had sent our boys to a larger school.

About reception though, it's really meant to be just play with a little learning thrown in. I wouldn't worry too much about a non academic infant school, as long as it was creative and fun I'd be happy.

My youngest two are in a school that has 4 classes in total 108 students. It has been a great experience and I would not hesitate to consider it again if we moved and needed to change schools. There will be friendship issues as a smaller pot to find friends from however it teaches a lesson on how to get along with people that you don't tend to get to the same extend in larger schools.

Go have a look and see how you feel about it. nothing stopping you from keeping iin touch with current friends and doing things like brownies for other friends.

My eldest was in a school with just three classes when he started in reception. A few years later (with an intake of almost 30 in one year instead of the usual 12 or so) they had 5 classes and are now back down to 4 since the huge year left. The school also went into SM at the end of his reception year. Fast forward to GCSEs and he came away with 14 from A*-C and is now 19 and about to go to university.

Watching with interest - just moved my children from their tiny school to a one form entry with an admission number of 25

I love the small school DS attends and so far have found no downsides :-) The school has a max of 13 in each year group but has gone up to 15 for the new intake circa 80-90 in the whole school. DS1 is coming to the end of his reception year and his experience couldn't have been better. He has had the sort of 1 to 1 attention that wouldn't be possible in a big school which has been of huge benefit to him as he has been allowed to move at his own pace- a major advantage for him as he is working at a fairly advanced level for reception at present. They have a teacher plus a TA plus lots of helpers between the 13 children in the class. Due to the small groups they had down pat within 2 weeks what he could do without me having to say a great deal.
The school has a community feeling with the whole school coming together for assembly and parents allowed in on Friday for sharing assembly. As a parent I feel welcome in the school. DS has friends across all years right up to Year 6 that he talks about and the big children clearly look after the little ones. Despite being a small school we still have the option of breakfast club and after school clubs with a Tea time club running until 6 pm everyday.
Next year he will be in a mixed year1/2 class so a bigger group but I think it will really suit him. The head teacher knows all the children as individuals. In the sharing assembly on Friday awards are also given out celebrating children's achievements outside of school which is a really lovely touch.
I dread to think of him being a faceless year R in a sea of 60+ other such children and so glad he is where he is and DS2 next year. The only thing that worries me is how to extend this positive experience into secondary school.

I think it would depend a lot on what the junior school is like, that your dd would go to, if she stays where she is, compared with the Junior school she would go to if she moves.
You will be able to support her learning during the infants/ for the next couple of years, and my personal thinking would be that 8 miles is a long way to be travelling to school and back each day. (Of course, I realise this might not be considered so if you are rural, but in my City, that would be a nightmare journey)