Your experience of one form entry schools?

[greenicecream]

We have the choice between a single form entry primary and a three form entry infant school. Both rated outstanding, both seemed lovely, happy, thriving schools when we looked round.

The single form entry is much closer to us - easy walking distance - has an amazing reputation and I really liked it looking round, but my only concern is whether or not single form entry is a bit crazy. What if you don't get on with your class? Do the Y6s all go stir crazy and then get totally overwhelmed when it comes to secondary?

Would be grateful for any experiences you can share!

Thanks so much all. Helpful to get other views (and concreteelephant, I think we may have the same choice you had so really helpful to know you are v happy with where you ended up).

I think we'll end up putting the single form entry school first - we did look round both and really liked both for different reasons but you're right that in this case the close distance will probably be the deciding factor between them.

I love the atmosphere of my daughters school. They all know each other and care about them. My DD has had Christmas cards from 11yr olds

I love this comment, and it's just how I feel about my kids' primary. I remember when my eldest was in Reception, they'd done something in assembly that involved them speaking in front of the rest of the school. As we were going home that afternoon, one of the Y6 kids patted my dd on the head and said well done for being so brave this morning. I love that sense of schools as extended families, and I think kids benefit hugely from mixing with children of different ages.

I would go for the larger Primary everytime.

We moved ds from a very small, very claustrophobic Primary, there were a few issues which I could only see intensifying as the years rolled on. In another setting we may not have had these issues.

Even though there are three classes in DS current school year group, they come together for music, PE, lunchtime, assemblies, days out etc, there is also a split so that there is only currently 27 in his class, so imo he has the best of both worlds. Also the mixing up of dc every year really does appeal to me, this was an issue in the smaller Primary, the smaller classes felt stagnant, issues were not being resolved, well, they couldn't be resolved because there was no scope to move the children around. Also if you have a dc who is a bit more 'quirky' there is more chance that they will find like minded dc at a larger school.

Ds has had lots of opportunities to perform in various assemblies, the school are really organised with doing different things in each year group, this year for example only Reception and Y1 are performing in the navtivity, the older years are each doing various activities and will each have their 'moment' in front of the school and relatives.

All in all, even though it was an extremely difficult decision, I'm so glad that we made the move.

Oh and the Headteacher knows all of the dc, she must be super organised and have a great memory but when she was showing me around the new school she greeted various children by their names.

The dc also perform in front of different year groups. Ds had to stand up and recount a story in front of the Y6 pupils. Just because it's a larger school doesn't mean that the dc don't all know eachother.

My children are in a 'half form' entry school, so they have 15 in reception, and then three mixed year group classes of 30 covering yr1/2, yr3/4, yr5/6.

I do worry about how it is going to go when they go up to secondary, but there is a really strong partnership between the primary and secondary.

My daughter is one of 9 girls in her year, and DS is one of 8 boys. It's such a small friendly atmosphere. There are isolates bullying incidents, but they are very swiftly dealt with.

We didn't have another realistic option due to very oversubscribed schools around here, but I am happy with the small achool

My eldest went to a 2 form ebtry end of year 4 . Year 5 she started in a 15 intake school.

Dd2 was taken out of above school in year 1 and spent 2 years in private school 10 students. Ds started in the private 6 stidents in reception. A move to a different county sent them to the small primary . Taking aside the private school. The small prinary was far better with clubs and activities. Music and aid with moving ahead. Facilities are about the same.

friendship issues are no bigger or smaller in any of the schools I dont think size matters much there.

A good involved head makes a big difference. Ofsted rates 1st school oitstanding second school good. Imo it ought to be the other way around

My experience mirrors Amazon - love our 3 form!

I've taught in a single form primary and choose the same type of school for my DS in Reception over the other 2 local schools which are both 3 form entry infants and juniors.

I love the community feel of having the age range up to 11 and most of the older children are very caring towards the younger ones. I love the certainty of knowing he is building friendships that hopefully will stand the 7 yrs together and I can see him growing into himself at that school. He's quite sensitive though and would get quite lost at a much bigger school.

On the downside he may grow to hate some of his classmates and there's no option to change class and obviously there are less resources. But the school has been perfect for him and it's walking distance too.

My daughter goes to a one form entry school. The plus sides are that everyone knows everyone, there really is a caring feeling to the school and they work hard to make sure pupils are included in things. It is our local school and it does feel as if we are part of the community. It has good provision for children with special needs - there is a play therapist who works with some children as well as other teachers who have experience in this area. They also have lots of clubs going.

Possible downsides. There is a greater number of boys in my daughter's year (17 compared with 8 when they were in reception) which could limit the number of possible friendships. They do have play times with other years which probably does help give space to find other friends.

I went to a very large primary school so can see if from both sides of the fence. I think I probably settled well at secondary because I was used to the larger numbers of children. However we did play mainly in our class groups (one of my friends from home was in a different class but we didn't play together at school).

I actually think it's less about the size of the school and more about the ethos. I can talk to my daughter's teachers anytime and they will listen to my concerns but I know that some schools are less encouraging of that kind of interaction - or they want to do it in a more formal way.

This is what I love about DS current school. Even though it's a bigger school, the teacher is standing at the door every morning with a smile. At DS old school, which was tiny, the TA used to stand at the door, no sign of any of the teachers.

I find it interesting that most posters seem to find single form entry small! Many of the schools rounds here are mixed classes and only 3 classes in the school. I would consider single form entry a 'normal' size. I teach at a 2.5 form every (but we only have 2 classes per year- yes I hate our huge class sizes) and it's considered big even though it's only Juniors.

The school near me has recently expanded from 2 to 3 form entry and I think it's too big for primary.

Most of the schools in our semi-rural area are single form entry.

I don't see any problem with it. If you want a real plus, it's the lack of angst over becoming separated from friends when classes are re-jigged between year groups. They pretty much stay with the same bunch of kids for 7 years, bar a bit of natural movement from kids moving house etc.

No lack of music opportunities at our local school, btw. All kids learn either brass instruments or ukulele, and they join with other local primaries for a big choir/dance/musical festival each year.

Similarly, football coaching is bought in and both boys and girls take part.

No problems for us with SEN, either. DS1 has moved onto specialist provision, now, because he needed to, but while he was there, they bent over backwards for him. DS2 has pretty much full time 1:1 and an individual learning program. And friends in every year group!

My dS went up to secondary this September and came from a single class a year primary, I don't think this caused a problem for him. The class was very boy heavy, 25 boys and 7 girls, but again it didn't cause problems I know of, and I do know the mums of several of the girls fairly well. there are less sports and other clubs to choose from in a smaller school, the school may simply not have a teacher with an interest / knowledge of music or netball for example, but I don't think this would effect my choice of school, you can always do clubs after school or at weekends. Being able to walk to primary is a big bonus, and being close makes it easier for visiting friends houses.

And I agree with an earlier poster re friendship issues, where there is no choice to move a child to another class, friendship issues have to be tackled more directly and were sorted out in the main by yr 4/5. Yr 6 was actually fairly peaceful.

My dc are in a single form entry school. There are 25 in ds1's class and 17 in ds2's.

Personally I much prefer it. The school has a real community feel, every staff member (including the caretaker) knows all the kids well and many of the parents.

My opinion is that they have plenty of time to get lost in the crowds in a huge school at secondary. Personally I would avoid any multiple form entry primaries like the plague - not something I'm keen on at all.