French Lady need help for primary school around Bury St Edmunds

[FrenchKate20]

We just moved in Suffolk from France and we're hesitating between Culford and Old Buckenham school. Why these two:I went on the survey done by ISI (independant schools inspectorate) and the results are good for both.
We're looking for serious school with good balance academic/ practice, sports and encouraging kids to always giving the best.
FYI:Our son is going to be 10 and he is used to english as we were in US two yeas ago.

If any one can have any recommandation even for other schools (more independant and close to Bury, to avoid wasting times in the transportation)
many thanks to All.

Old Buckenham is really quite a trek from Bury St Edmunds and if you are looking for a day place the drive is rapidly going to become very tiresome. Fairstead House in Newmarket would be much quicker to get to as would Barnadiston Hall.
The benefit of Culford is of course that it goes to 18.

Lonecatwithkitten thank you for your answer. You're right the kid is going to go there on daily basis. Need to take that into consideration for sure OHB is very "tricky" to go. FOR your recommendation, Fairsted ends up at 11 so means changing a school for one year is not efficient for us and for Barnadiston I need to contact them. thanks again.

Are you already living in Bury?
If not would you consider moving West to open up Kings Ely or the Cambridge schools to you.

ISI Reports are not with the paper they are written on. Do not judge a school by them as they can be works of fiction. Do try and suss out the schools yourself. Go and have a very inquisitive look round. Try and speak to other parents and see what strengths and weaknesses each school has. They may not all be sporty schools, for example.

I have friends with DC at Great Finborough & Framlingham, both very happy and I believe bus service from BSE! Culford very good for sport!

My DS were at South Lee in BSE, very good (independent) day school up to 13. They would then advise re senior school!

My children went to OBH and we drove from Bury each day - took us 20 minutes so not bad at all. Personally we found it was a great school, where children are allowed to be children but are still pushed if you see what I mean. A new head starting this year too so I'd recommend a visit.

If you want to go down the traditional boarding school route for secondary then OBH is better as they send DC off to lots of different schools. Culford on the other hand mainly feeds its Senior school. Lots more boarding at OBH than Culford too. Ipswich School is accessible from Bury too via a parent run school bus - would recommend this over Culford if you want a school that is mixed and goes up to 18.

Good point about the bus, OBH have a bus from Bury too.