Torn between 2 primary schools...Advice please!

[happymummyto2]

Hi, I'm new to mumsnet and was wondering whether any of you would be kind enough to give some advice/opinion on my dilemma.
I live in a very small, rural village and have recently visited 3 primary schools in my area to select one for my daughter to attend when she starts next year. I'm really torn between 2 schools...my village school & a school in a village approx. 2 miles away.

My village school is very small (126 pupils). The school teaches the Reception class as a group of 18 pupils then all the following years are paired up into classes of 36 pupils (eg. yr 1 & 2 together, then yr 3&4 etc). The school is classed as "Good" by OFSTED. We are virtually guaranteed a place in this school as we are within the catchment area.

The school in the village 2 miles away is larger with 210 pupils and is also rated as "Good" by OFSTED. The school teaches each year group separately with 30 pupils in each class. My daughter is not guaranteed a place at the school but is fairly likely to get in as we are not too far away in a low density area.

When I visited the schools I had a gut instinct for the school 2 miles away, I liked the Headteacher, the reception teacher, the facilities and their modern style of teaching (active learning) and their results which are in the top 10 of schools in the County. However the school is not in my village and most of my daughter's friends from nursery and preschool will not be going there.

I did not dislike my village school however I didn't have such a warm feeling towards it. I'm not sure about 2 different year groups being taught together (also if there are large class sizes in a year some "less mature pupils" may be held back with the year below), I did not warm to the Headteacher and felt that the school was a touch old fashioned in terms of available facilities and teaching styles. I also don't think it helped that we were shown round the school by two 8yr olds instead of the Headteacher/adult.

Most, if not all parents, within my village automatically send their kids to the village school and my real concern is that my child will not be part of the local community, have no friends within the village and miss out on village events, that more often than not are run by the local school. I'm a bit worried that we will not be seen to be supporting our village if we do not send our child to the local school however this is something I can deal with if I'm sure that I am making the right choice for my daughter!

I have spoken to parents with children at my village school and they seem happy with the school however I don't know any parents at the other school. Do you think I am worrying unnecessarily about the community/friendship elements of not sending my child to my village school? Or should I support the local school and try to change if it doesn't suit at a later date? Has anyone else been in a similar position?

Sorry for the lengthy post, but any comments will be gratefully received!

I suggest making an appointment to see the head at your local school. As you said you were shown round by children so may not have all the info you need. You may get another impression if you have a talk with the head (or help cement your feelings for the other school). BTW both my children were taught in mixed yr groups and progressed v well.

I've experienced both the schools you mention. I would say that large school classes (36) are a huge problem!! It's hard to effectively teach 36 kids - so much better to have a class of 28 or so. My observation of large class sizes include more bullying, more bad behaviour, higher teacher stress levels and higher teacher work load, more noise and less individual attention. Smaller the class the better!

Teaching two classes in one year hasn't been an issue. Often there is a huge overlap of abilities ie) middle set year 2 is the same as top set year 1. Yes the teacher has to differentiate more but there are lots of pluses - it means even the younger year 2's will be the older ones in a class alternative years. Great for confidence! Also older year group pupils are really well known in their second year with a teacher and this means the teacher gets lots more out of their students!!

Lastly you could always send you DD to the school 2 miles away but just enrole her for any local clubs to help with local friendships.

She really only needs one or two nice friends locally. Have you any nice neighbours?

It's a difficult one. Personally, I would firstly do what Retro suggests and make an appointment to see the headteacher of your local school. You can then discuss teaching styles etc with her and then you will be in a better position to make a decision.

FWIW I wouldn't be overly concerned about mixed classes. These are extremely common in rural schools and teachers will have experience teaching children of mixed ability. It is very unlikely a bright child would be held back' as you put it.

Having said this, you must absolutely place your daughter where you think she will be happiest/learn best. If this is a school 2 miles away then so be it. I'm sure she wouldn't be the only child in your village to ever attend the other school. Other parents in your village may also send their DCs to private schools. What 'village events' are you worried your child might miss out on? Couldn't you enrol her in the local Brownies or something if you are worried about the lack of local friendships?

I think you are over thinking this TBH OP. You are very fortunate to be able to choose between 2 basically good schools where your child has a reasonable chance of getting in. Many parents do not have this sort of choice.

Look again at your local school. But if after a second visit you still prefer the other one then put that first on your form. Concerns about being part of your local community are secondary IMO. Choose the school where you think your DC will be happy and thrive.

I would usually say to go to the nearer school that you can get to easily even in bad weather. And I do think being part of the local community is a positive, especially in a village environment. Are you sure about the classes of 36 however? I thought that illegal in KS1 and not great even in the later years. I think the other are right meet with the head and discuss your concerns.

Class size of 36 confuses me, too.
With intakes like that our school would resort to making many split year classes. So yrs1-2 could be split into 3 equal size classes of 24 each, of varying years makeup. And same again for yrs3-4 & yrs 5-6. There is no guarantee that the school OP prefers won't change it's splits in future. Especially if their intake fluctuates.

Gut feeling is a better way to decide. I think I would visit local school again to decide what it was I didn't like as much about it.

Thanks very much for all your for all your comments/suggestions! It's good to hear your opinions about mixed year classes, as not having had a child at a school before, this is not something I had come across having been to larger schools myself.

The village school definitely has 36 pupils in each class apart from Reception which are taught separately as a group of 18 however all classes have 1 teaching assistant with a couple floating where required. The school only has 4 classrooms in total so splitting classes is not an option.
The other school has a max of 30 to a class with usually (but not always) 2 teaching assistants in each class.

I am well aware that we are extremely fortunate to have a choice of 2 good schools, however like any parent I want to be sure that I'm making the right choice for my child given all the circumstances. I am inclined to go with my gut instinct however before I make a final decision I will, as you all suggest, make an appt to see the Headteacher at our village school to discuss concerns. Many thanks

In your position I would opt for the school further away. 36 children seems far too many for really effective teaching let alone effective differentiation.

You also say that you got a good vibe from the further away school. That means a lot IMO.

My DD got a place in a primary that is about 20 minutes on the bus from where we now live. I looked at a load of schools - they're all really good in my area. 4/5 were Outstanding. Only one really stood out to me and we were very lucky that a couple of families moved and 3 children didn't turn up and so we got a waiting-list place. It has been well worth the move and extra travelling.

DD still goes to the local nursery in the holidays, inset days etc and sees all the friends she's had since she was two and who are now at a wide-range of different schools. She went to a party on Saturday of a girl who was in her class last year at a different school. You can definitely still keep local friends.

I'm assuming you are in England in which case the school is breaking the law as infant classes must not exceed 30 with one teacher regardless of TAs. It is unlikely that the additional 6 children have been admitted as exceptions when each year group has 18 pupils

Village school absolutely everytime. We had no choice, but a 3 mile car trip everyday. Don't do it if you can walk, make friends yourself and have friends for DD in the village.

Honestly you can always move if you absolutely hate the school, but don't start with the more inconvenient option.

DDs school had combined/split years they work fine.

I would go with your gut instinct, provided that you are happy you could do the 2 mile trip each way, every day. In terms of being a member of the local community you could think about rainbows/brownies etc. or Sunday school/church activities.