Help, have to decide which primary school tonight!

[thisonehasalittlecar]

First off, I know I'm not going to get much sympathy from anyone living in an area where getting into out of catchment schools is a real struggle. We're moving from a village to a town about 3 miles away; dd1 due to go into P3 in August and ds is in the school nursery, enrolled for P1 (we are in Scotland). Their current school is the 'desirable' school for the area and quite a few children from out of the catchment go there. When we decided on the move I planned to keep them there and commute.

However, now I've visited a few of the schools near our new house and and am wondering if I'm being a bit hasty. Two of them seemed to have a nice atmosphere and tick boxes like good parental involvement etc. Their current school is probably better academically but this could be due in large part to being in a more middle-class area than the town schools. It is also larger (300+ pupils) than the town schools (70-100 pupils) and thus maybe easier for someone like dreamy, easily distracted dd to get lost in the shuffle. And I wonder if things like being able to walk to school independently, making local friends more easily etc. might be just as important as academics. But then again, they are both quite settled and happy at the village school.

I know I should be grateful to even have all these options but I have talked this to death with friends, family, parents at all the schools over the past couple of weeks and now I really have to decide before we break up next week! Any advice on bigger/smaller schools, local/commuting etc, moving/staying put would be greatly appreciated.

If the child is settled and flourishing I would not move them unless necessary.
You could take the pressure off, try it for a year ( with the two DC and commute ) and see if it's do-able.

thanks, lowercase, I'm considering that too but then wondering if ds might not find the transition easier if he's there from the start?

Either way there will be transition for one or both.
This way, the least disruption for now.

If transition doesn't go well for your first born, you will regret it.
I think this way covers all bases, but is a long process.

I would leave them where they are for now, moving house can be hard enough for children, having the familiarity of the school gives them a bit of stability while they get settled in a new house etc. If it's doable to commute then try it and see how it goes. Being able to walk to school etc is great but from the sound of it you will have the option to move them in a few months or a year if you decide to.

I'd be of the opposite opinion. Having gone to a different school to most of my village I found it more difficult to maintain friendships. I think there is a lot to be said for having local friends.
If the school is good as you say I would consider moving now, help settle in in the area. If there are local sports groups etc its easier to fit in if you are in school together etc.