I'm confused now. Stick with larger allocated school or hang out for smaller first choice?

[MrsGrumpyPants]

I've posted before about the fact that we didn't get any of our 3 choices and got allocated a different larger school that I didn't want, and would have to drive to. We've gone on the waiting list for our first choice but I'm now having doubts and would love some advice from others.

Our first choice school is very small (single form entry) but serves our little community and I could walk. It was always our dream/ plan for the kids to go there and be part of the community. I had a childminder provisionally lined up for the days that I work.

The one we got allocated is large, 3 classes this year (normally 2), but we'd have to drive. I initially was very anti, but have now gone and seen the school and talked to mums who have children there. They are all extremely positive. The school has much better and larger facilities, and very importantly, has breakfast and afterschool care (assuming we could get a place on it).

The childminder I had lined up if we had succeeded on the waiting list for our first choice is now almost certainly unavailable. If we did get offered a place on the waiting list, I simply have no idea what I would do as regards childcare.

I'm thinking we should cut our losses and commit fully to the school we've been offered- any opinions of smaller vs larger schools would be much appreciated. I know it all depends on my child, but to be honest I think he has characteristics that would fit with both- he can be shy, but he also loves running around like a crazy thing, and attends a pretty large nursery without being too phased.

Thanks in advance. Although I think I've answered my own debate

There have been a number of similar threads. I always thought 3 form was very big until I fell in love with our school!! Great facilities, great wrap around care, holiday club huge extra curricular, something for every child what ever their interests, larger pool of friends to choose from, dedicated sports and music teachers ....

Thanks doodle...that's great to hear! I've just been googling small vs large primaries and come up with all sorts of opinions from different chat rooms.

It just feels such a U-turn to be thinking of giving up on what we always wanted. But maybe it's a blessing in disguise, who knows?

If you have visited and you like the bigger school and you feel your child will be happy there then take the place.

If your child is happy at school they should do well so finding a school that you like is half the battle won really

My DDs school is a six class entry and I couldn't be happier with it. The juniors are next door on a different site though so although there's lots of them they're all quite little.

They do a really good job of making the children feel a part of it and I've not come across anyone who's child hasn't settled well.

Plus, compared to some of the other schools in the area we seem to get a lot more communication –weekly curriculum updates and we're allowed into the classroom every Friday morning, before registration, to see what they've been doing so I wouldn't say big necessarily means impersonal.

4 form entry in our infant and junior schools (different sites) I love the fact that they mix up the classes every 3 years or so (more often if there is a problem class)

plenty of clubs after school and enough children to make up sports teams.
also plenty of people joining the pta so I didn't have to

Mine went into a 3 form entry infant school and it really suited us. The school had outstanding teachers and there was so much going on. No smaller school I could have chosen was as good. My DDs gained so much by having wide friendship groups and they were very happy at the school.

I do not think small schools are necessarily something to aspire to. Several near me had Head teachers who were serving their time and mediocre teaching. There was not much inspiring about them and the larger school provided much better music, sport, drama, clubs and art, not to mention teaching and learning. It is all about teaching and small schools do not have a monopoly of good teachers. Larger schools have them too so I would definitely take the place at the larger school.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences, and reassuring me.

I still wish this hadn't all been imposed on us and we'd simply got our nearest school. But I have learnt that I really should have gone to see the one we'd been given before I ranted to friends/ family. I'm going to look like a right fruitcake now

A great learning for others though and one to pass on. A teacher friend of mine always said visit visit visit visist, don't just go for what others want or ofsted say. Never a truer word. You will look like a wise fruit cake sensible enough to be open minded and review options ;)

Driving is a pita, but before and after school care is worth it's weight in gold. Certainly it's worth £££ if it allows you to go back to work, something I never managed.

I loved our small school (15 a year combined classes). It was very limited for sport, and art, but good for music. Because that's what the teachers were good at.

It was very friendly and very open, but I'm the last generation of parents who got to just walk in when we liked, there are now reception areas and buzzers. As I'm sure their should be, but I liked the old way better.

It's probably easier to run a PTA in a small school, where a reasonable percentage of the parents feel they ought to help and know each other, but conversely knowing each other can be cliquey. Communication can be shit because they forget not everyone is in the loop.

Friendships worked brilliantly in DD2's year, but less well in DD1's, but a lot of that is her.

In the end you can only visit and talk to people and consider your child care needs. A village school with only one or two CMs, who decide can decide on other careers can be very difficult.