Suddenly offered a place in outstanding school - what would you do?

[LaLoose]

Hello, I got a phone call at lunchtime which has thrown me quite a lot. Can you advise me?

My children started at year 1 in a primary this term, Ofsted-rated Good (they were in reception at another school, which they loved, and that we had to leave for reasons completely unconnected to the school). It is OBVIOUSLY very early days and I don't feel in a position to make a judgement yet about the school. It is friendly and has a nice atmosphere. I have vaguely felt that the children weren't being pushed enough, but was / am keen to keep my powder dry and see how things bed down before talking to staff.

The phone call today was to offer the children immediate places in year 1 at a primary school rated Outstanding, for which they were on the waiting list. (This is despite the fact that I had rung that school during the summer and told them we had accepted a place elsewhere.)

It's pretty appalling timing. Obviously, were we to move the children again, this would be a second big upheaval for them in a matter of weeks. They do know two children at the Outstanding school, but that is not the clincher for me, as they are obviously making friends in their current Good school.

I'm also, naturally, planning to gently ask them for their opinion over the weekend.

What would you do, oh wise Mumsnetters?

There are two schools in my area that have gone from good and outstanding to needs improvement and back to good again over the past 4/5 yrs.
One of the schools went downhill because the head teacher left and the other just got complacent in some aspects but was still a good school according to parents.

What I'm trying to say is that the ofsted rating isn't set in stone for ever more, things can change anytime and the rating may not mean much anyway.

It's more important to look at other factors, especially your gut feeling and views of other parents.

Not set in stone but if consistent pattern over years, they're doing a lot right! Dd now at one after improving- good school and the difference is unbelievable- ethos, calibre of teachers, discipline, pace of learning. No regrets.

I would say consistent pattern over years usually reflects the intake, not the quality of teachers and heads, who change a lot.

When were they both last inspected? It's much harder to get outstanding now - you may find that there's not much difference between them, really. (My dcs' old primary school used to be outstanding, is now rated good, but does all the same great stuff it always did)

What does your gut feel tell you about the two schools? Are your children happy in the current school? I think that might tell you your answer.