Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Would you travel 7 miles to an outstanding primary school?

72 replies

Sofia2011 · 06/12/2014 10:35

Hi guys, my daughter is currently at a nursery of an outstanding primary school, we used to live in the area of the school but had to move due to landlord selling property and nothing available in the area. Anyway due to moving I've looked at the local primary where teachers are really friendly but it is small and not surrounded by the best estate. Facilities are minimal but it's a nice enough school. Or do i send her to the school seven miles away she may not get in but it's a large primary with 90 plus pupils in each year and last year they accepted students as far as seven miles out. The facilities are amazing, a Olympic swimming pool, a theatre and radio station as well as fully functioning baking kitchen. My hubby thinks we should be going for the outstanding school to give her the most opportunity, but he hasn't got a car so the driving to school and from school will be left to me as I have the car and also work full time in a stressful job. What do I do guys I can't choose, part of me thinks I should go for outstanding school but am going to dread the journey before and after work :/

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mashabell · 06/12/2014 15:24

No! Never! - Unless the school was really, really awful.

It's much better for children to be within walking distance of their primary school, for environmental and health reasons, but also to have school friends who live locally.

With all those inspections and accountability, all schools provide a pretty good education nowadays.

Gileswithachainsaw · 06/12/2014 15:34

Yes. I would. If the other school was bad

but then 7 miles in a car wouldn't bother me given I've spent three years travelling on multiple buses to get to Dds school..

TalkinPeace · 06/12/2014 15:46

for primary
7 miles is nothing in a rural area : a matter of minutes along country lanes at 50 mph

in a city or suburbs its madness

cece · 06/12/2014 15:56

I'd go local.

TBH Ofsted outstanding only means that Ofsted likes it.

My youngest and eldest DC go to 2 different schools - both rated good. I think they are both great and they are doing really well there.

My third DC goes to an 'outstanding' school - my eldest went there also. As a parent I have not been terribly impressed with it.

dayshiftdoris · 06/12/2014 17:23

I have to do a school run of 3 miles to access SEN provision (officially I am 2.8 miles shortest route hence why he doesn't get transport).

I hate the school run but I hate it because there is a bottle neck in a particular caused by 4 big schools in a 1mile radius - on the occasions my son is at an after school club my normal 20min school run is halved.

You really need to way it up - if circumstances change for instance if you were on maty leave / not working and doing a normal school run that 20 min drive could easily become 40mins. If you were to go for it I would be looking to move - infact it's looking like secondary for us will be also close to 3 miles and I am looking to move just to ditch the school run.

Pelicangiraffe · 06/12/2014 17:30

I would but only if I could move a bit closer

Blu · 06/12/2014 17:36

So, you'd be driving 150 miles a week in rush hour traffic, your child would be in school min 8.30 - 5.30 every day, you can't be late for after school care pick up, it would cost £70pw in after school child care, all your child's friends would live miles away?

I'd go for the local school where the teachers are friendly. Or move much closer to the other school.

LePetitMarseillais · 06/12/2014 18:12

7 miles is nothing in rural areas.

I'd go for best fit,not convenience.You'll be dealing with said school for a long time(7 years).

Blu · 06/12/2014 18:17

Also, bear in mind given yours and your DH's working circumstances and travel, every time she is poorly at school it will be you who has to drive all those miles to go and get her (it happens loads in the first few year of primary). Every time someone needs to call in and have a word with the teacher after school (it doesn't happen after the after-school care), it will be you leaving work early. I suppose he could do his share by taking all the off-school sick days.

I looked on the website - parking clearly causes huge issues: the residents are complaining and calling out enforcement, the LA are threatening double yellows along all the roads...

We were lucky: primary was a walk - and it was a big 'quality of life' plus. Less stress getting out in the mornings, no traffic angst, lots of local families to share pick ups with in an emergency, reciprocal help, local friends, etc.

Surely you won't get into an incredibly popular school 7 miles away in a densely populated area? Catchments tend to shrink each year for popular schools.

It does look a good school though.

DixieNormas · 06/12/2014 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lavenderhoney · 06/12/2014 18:26

I live rurally and the journey is about that- takes about ten minutes, allowing for tractors and cows. And tourists:)

There is no pool etc! :) however the teaching is excellent and my children adore the tiny school and benefit from very small classes.

Ask the head of any children go from near you and if there is a taxi service/ childminder arrangement.

Original poster

Sofia2011 · 06/12/2014 18:34

Yes she is currently at the outstanding school. However parking is a nightmare like you said Blu. Prob is I don't know if we will stay in this area long term I can't see us moving for some time as we r saving to buy and the area with the outstanding primary school is particularly expensive. Thankyou all for some fantastic advice my husband hasn't been much help and after we visited both schools last week he just wanted to go for the outstanding one cause of facilities and oppurtunities etc. I want the best for my daughter as well and worry about her going to a school that is seen to be a bit rough, we r normal people and not snobby at all but I worry cause the closer school ten mins walk away is surrounded by a very deprived area. The road i live on is nice but where the school is surrounded by a rough estate. I know some of the nicest people are the poorest and I don't like posh snobs but I worry about the location of the school even though I loved the friendly teachers and warm atmosphere. It would be so much easier for me if she was at the local school though.

OP posts:

LIZS · 06/12/2014 18:45

Do you have any other children to consider? Sibling policy may change over time so even if she got in now (and it might be that there are too many children living closer or with higher priority ) there is no guarantee another dc would. Then you'd be faced with children at schools some distance apart perhaps with different inset days and systems.

Original poster

Sofia2011 · 06/12/2014 18:57

No I have one daughter that is it. Very true we may not get in anyway.

OP posts:

phlebasconsidered · 06/12/2014 19:05

I live rurally. My local primary failed my children miserably. One was weeping every morning and wetting the bed in fear. I have moved them to the nearest other primary. It is 9 miles away across rural drove roads. It's fine. Rural people do this travel all the time. They've even had playdates. It is completely ok. Bit of a pisser on a frosty / snowy day, but Lidls do snow chains cheap.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 06/12/2014 19:08

Not unless it was my nearest school, or not much further away than the alternatives.

TheGonnagle · 06/12/2014 21:06

I can't help you with Coventry schools, sorry. I don't go over there at all for work.
Good luck!

momb · 06/12/2014 21:11

I've done both: the out of catchment outstanding school run with wraparound childcare, and the local good enough school with local friends.
I'd go for the local school unless it is a bad one.

Saracen · 06/12/2014 23:21

On top of the normal daily logistics, if you should ever need a childminder or au pair to do the school run, or need to cheek a friend to take your daughter to or from school, that'll be nearly impossible if she isn't at the local school!

I'd only even consider the farther school if the local one were terrible.

AmazonGrace · 07/12/2014 01:42

DS goes to a school which is 5 miles away, it's a doddle for me as there are just two main roads leading to it, takes me ten minutes. On the days I work I'm actually better off than I was at the more local school as I can head off down the back lanes to get onto my regular route. There are lots of children who don't live in the immediate vicinity so we don't feel like the outsiders as such.

I choose a larger primary over a small one every time, which is one of the reason why we moved schools.

sleepdodger · 07/12/2014 01:45

Knowing the location there is no way you will get in moving 7 miles away- think you have till jan to be in Catchment if you intend to apply? Surely there must be something local to rent if that's what you decide?

RedButtonhole · 07/12/2014 02:05

I'd go for the smaller school with the good teachers. I don't think that at such a young age children will benefit a huge amount from olympic swimming pools and fancy kitchens.

Having them closer to home is easier logistically, and if you want them to do things like swimming you can probably do so outwith school.

My DS' tiny village school has no facilities whatsoever, but he does swimming lessons at a pool in the next town and the school has lots of visitors in to run sports clubs etc. The thing that makes his school so brilliant is the enthusiasm, warmth and support of the teachers, I think that is way more important than anything else to be honest.

pinkdelight · 07/12/2014 08:20

Go local. Lots of great schools (including my DCs') have 'not the best estate' next door and they're still great schools. It's massively helpful to be close to home - all the to's and fro's at the moment for Christmas concerts, fayres etc are testament to that! Plus your DH's opinion is quite disengaged, simply to choose the 'outstanding' one without a thought for logistics. If he wants to do the best so badly for DD, would he get a car and do the driving himself? If not, then you have your real world answer. Go local...

Original poster

Sofia2011 · 07/12/2014 11:20

Thanks everyone you have been so so helpful yes we live rurally. It's been really hard for me as my husband doesn't seem to understand how tired and stressed I get working full time as a manager let alone adding a huge school run into my working week. I want the best for my daughter as well but can't kil myself either. I must have changed my mind on the application form at least ten times. We cannot look at moving for a few years a we've had to move three times in three years due to landlords selling, and we now have a decent landlord who doesn't bother us and I really couldn't face moving again and feeling unsettled :(

OP posts:

Original poster

Sofia2011 · 07/12/2014 11:21

No don't think he will get a car everything seems to fall on me all the time ;/

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3