please help me decide.

[schooldecisions]

we have been offered a school which has just turned from private to an academy - Liverpool college. Great reputation, brilliant facilities.

We have also been offered lipa primary a brand new free school. lipa were not quite ready in time for the council application process so we ended up with 2 offers.

We have been invited in to lipa several times over the last few months for them to update us on progress and to let us meet the head and governess. I love their ideas, the project based learning and the new fresh curriculum, it's all very modern, very new, my child will be in the first ever year which I think will be special. lipa are well established with a great reputation so it's not too much the unknown and untrusted.

The other choice is just so different, traditional, perhaps a little outdated. wonderful reputation, very sought after, very few places so we are exceptionally lucky to get in. I have been told I would be mad to turn it down especially for a new untried school that as yet isn't quite built and has a head teacher but no other teachers yet. I'm really torn. I know I am so lucky to be in this position when so many people haven't got what they wanted at all.

It sounds like both are good choices so whichever you pick will be positive.

Do you have a few days to "sleep on it"?

Sleep on it - you have days to make a decision. Visit Liverpool College again - I found it very traditional when I visited it a few years ago but it may change. Both will be great so choose which your gut feel suits your family and educational ethos the best. Don't worry about free school not being quite ready yet - many existing free schools were at this stage in previous years

My son is currently in reception at a brand new school. My daughter has just been accepted for the September intake. I couldn't be happier. I also could have chosen a more established school but there is definitely something very special about being the first intake. The kids have been wonderful in settling and have rapidly progressed. The headteacher was also the only member of staff when we accepted last year, but the teacher they've got for reception is outstanding. (a new school will be picky with teachers, they wont appoint anyone who isn't forward thinking and excellent in my experience)

The new school has brand new facilities / state of the art everything

It is the first one in the borough (Richmond upon thames) to implement a new maths curriculum and will probably be the first in other areas. This is because it's a lot easier to implement things in a smaller / newer setting than changing practice in a more established place.

just thought I'd give my experiences. Obviously the choice is yours. Go with your instincts and have a look around / meet with both before making a decision

I would want to know that they will employ qualified teachers before even considering the free school place. They don't have to and it is cheaper not to. I would be very reluctant to turn down a place at a good school when the free school haven't appointed teachers.

It would be great to say that the school will be picky with teachers but you have no idea if that will be the case since they have no idea which teachers will be applying for positions! Many teachers would prefer to work under teachers pay and conditions in LA schools than apply to a free school where conditions can be far worse so it is not actually true that they will have the best teachers at all. In our area the teachers that go for free school positions are those that can't get a job in LA schools or unqualified teachers.

I accept this is not always the case though.
Think very carefully before turning a well established, successful school down. It can take years to build these relationships and find teachers that really complement each other in terms of support and skills and SEN provision. In a new school there will be less teachers available to give that breadth of experience and support that teachers can offer each other in larger schools.

Sorry, ignore earlier post. Didn't read the original in that it is an acadamy school or free school so some of my points are irrelevant. Would still tend to think that an acadamy with an excellent reputation will have more choice of teachers for each position than a new free school though.

lipa as in the performing arts school in Liverpool? If it's an offshoot of that I'd jump at it - even if the child currently shows no aptitude there's plenty of time!

Sounds like you've got the choice of two fantastic options - doesn't make it an easy choice but it's a nice one I suppose!

thanks so much for your replies, I know i am so lucky to be stuck between 2 such great choices. yes its part of lipa the performing arts uni in Liverpool, will have access to all their facilities, knowledge, contacts etc. its come down to i want lipa he wants Liverpool college. Some great points raised in this thread to help our discussions this weekend about it.

lipa are working in partnership with edge Hill teacher training college and plan to get newly qualified teachers but with a very experienced head teacher. I agree with your post sunshiny they won't have the collective experience to fall back on.

Hi,

I've just stumbled across you're old thread and I'm really keen to find out what school you chose.

Do you have any regrets?

I'm in a similar situation. Thanks so much x

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