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

Original poster

Primary place with friends or outstanding alternative without friends

37 replies

gailsteeden · 30/04/2015 12:47

We have a difficult decision - DD has got a place at the same primary as all her friends from nursery, she's quite shy but has some really good friends at nursery and we know at least 10 kids starting there (neighbours etc). The school however has just been downgraded from outstanding to good. It was our second choice and we are on the waiting list for the nearby outstanding school but know no-one going there.

Her friends are all getting excited about starting school together but I am uncertain about whether to persevere with the waiting list or whether to just send her to the same school as her friends.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Fleurdelise · 30/04/2015 18:15

When were both school last inspected?

My dd's school was good when she joined. It now dropped to requires improvement last year which amazed us (as parents) because the results at KS2 and the teaching is really good.

As a comparison my friends DC goes to an outstanding school last inspected in 2007 . From what I see the results of ks2 are very similar in the last few years between my dd's school and the outstanding school. Also by sharing experiences I believe my dd's school is better, they do swimming for two years (year 3 and 4) compared to two terms at the outstanding school, change books more often, homework more structured and so on.

So I would look into the date of the last report of the outstanding school because I for one would not send my child to a school last inspected 6+ years ago.

hiccupgirl · 30/04/2015 18:53

Tbh as a teacher who sees a lot of schools I didn't even look at the rating for the school my DS started at last year. I know all the local schools are at least good and the rating of outstanding isn't worth the paper it's written on IME. Usually it just means the school is good at paperwork or stats or making sure it has the right staff in when Ofsted visits - yes this does happen even with little notice. Or as said above, they haven't been inspected for a long time.

Since my DS has started school I have realised how much easier he would have found it if he'd been able to go with more children he already knew from his nursery. This wasn't an option for us because of where his private nursery was and where the local schools are but he found it hard to start with only one child he knew. I personally would go for the school you know she will be happier at...if she's shy and finds change hard, then the one where she will know some children will probably be better for her at the moment.

Mopmay · 30/04/2015 20:04

We are at a big creative inspirational school so that that would by choice. It's lovely if they have friends in Sept but do soon make new ones. Our local CoE is well rated but small and never inspired me.

var123 · 01/05/2015 05:58

I know I'd choose the better education in a heartbeat. I'm not sure what I'd have done 8 years ago when my PFB was your DD's age, but I know what came to matter later.

I really believe that children's friendships change several times between 4 & 11, and the choice of school based on toddler friendships is basing things on the past. But everyone is different and I can see that several other people on here would make the opposite choice. So, its down to what matters most to you.

However, one thing to consider is what about your friends? If they are all going to send their Dc to the other school, then that is where your support network is going. That's where the people will be that you would have been able to call and ask to pick your DD up too if one day you are not able to get to the school on time. Or ask what the homework is as your DD has left her diary at school and its due in tomorrow? They are the people you'd have been at sports day with and sitting next to you in the assemblies.

You will probably make new friends too, but it won't be the same.

YonicScrewdriver · 01/05/2015 06:16

I assume you've accepted the good school?

Stay on the waiting list for the other; you may not ever get an offer. Do
You know how high up the list you are?

Saltedpeanuts · 01/05/2015 08:38

My DD2 is now 10 and her best friend is still the girl she was best friends with at nursery. They were at the same primary school for a few years, but DD had to move to a different school a while back. She misses her best friend desperately - it is a constant feeling of sadness for her. Even though they still see each other reasonably often. Friendships do run deep for some little girls.

BertNErnie · 02/05/2015 08:34

I would go for the feel of the school and friendships over ofsted any day.

I have taught for the past 10 years and currently work at an outstanding school. We have the highest supply teacher cost in the LEA as we have most teachers off sick with stress. The children are regimented within an inch of their lives and there is no fun allowed. We get results but that's because they are intensively drilled in years 2 and 6.

The waiting list for the school is close to 300 and you wouldn't know about the sickness of teachers from walking around with a head who just papers over the cracks on a daily basis. If we were inspected tomorrow we would NOT be outstanding but if we were given a days notice I can assure you we would be...

I would never send my children there and am leaving as it doesn't fit in with how I believe education should be. Having taught for a long time, I have been part of great schools that get similar results but haves much more holistic approach and the children are happy and nurtured.

JasperDamerel · 02/05/2015 08:45

It sounds as though, Ofsted aside, the school-without-friends is the one that you love, so I'd stay on the waiting list for that. If there will be plenty of potential school friends nearby, she will make new friends and keep her friendships with the nursery friends if you make the effort to maintain those.

CrispyFern · 02/05/2015 09:02

I would choose the school you liked best.

NotCitrus · 02/05/2015 12:35

If the schools are next door to each other, why have all the other families gone for the other one? Some non-denominational schools are more Christian than some CofE schools, just as some Good schools may be much better or more appropriate for your child than an Outstanding one. She'd probably be fine at.either, and any problems couldn't be predicted now anyway.

schooldilemma81 · 03/05/2015 13:26

After a recently learned decision do NOT chase Ofsted. Speak to the head and visit the school - visit lots of schools.

We have decided to send DS to an out of area school in Sept, if there are spaces left.

We are also worried about him not knowing the others as has attended catchment school nursery with friends.

Praying all works out.

schooldilemma81 · 03/05/2015 14:08

To give you an idea why you mustn't chase Ofsted, DS school (at which he attends nursery) was until recently good with outstanding features.

It's now RI.

Things can change in a heartbeat in terms of Ofsted.

We looked around a nearby outstanding and was offered a place for DS but it was very clearly not suitable for DS and the report was done so long ago I really doubt they'd get outstanding again. The criteria has changed so much.

The one we have settled on is 'good' at danger of going RI at next inspection as results have fallen BUT I loved the school and the ethos and the things they get up to there.

Flip

1 2