One form or two form entry?

[Tallulahoola]

Applying for a reception place for DD. Two schools near us so possibly we could get into either as a first choice.

School 1 has a lovely, nurturing atmosphere, great reputation, is academically excellent. Outstanding Ofsted rating. It is 1FE.

School 2 doesn't have the same academic results or reputation though it is improving and has a good Ofsted. It's certainly not a bad school and the kids seem happy. It is 2FE.

Until now I've thought school 1 was a no-brainer. DD is quite quiet and loves reading, writing, maths etc. I figured the smaller environment would suit her. But lately I've been worrying that a smaller school might not be so great for friendships. Even now at nursery I see little cliques forming - she has two 'best friends' but when the three are together the other two are obviously closer and sometimes leave her out. It doesn't really bother her at this age but am sure it would when she's older (if she was a boy this wouldn't worry me). So I'm thinking 2FE would give her more friends to choose from and she's more likely to find her tribe IYSWIM.

DH says I'm over-thinking the friends thing and that you can't predict that side of things. Is he right? I think he might be but just don't know.

Lots of children from small schools move to DD's 4FE school from Y3/4 onwards - because their children were finding the smaller school claustrophobic. If OP does go for the 1FE school I'd consider what the "moving later" options would be.

This is interesting - we put DTs in the 1FE school and we obviously had to figure out whether to keep them together or split them first before making that decision. It is a lovely warm nurturing school with good results, and they have links with the local secondary school and go there quite a bit for events - eg they are going to a sports festivale this week so they are getting exposure to the bigger school environment.

everyone I know with DT went to bigger schools so they could be in seperate classes lol

I've always found parents of twins want them to be kept together in primary

Really? My experience is that vast majority of multiples' parents want them to be in different classes, so they are individual people and not "the twins/triplets".

I've always had parents argue against splitting up twins even when teacher has suggested would be for the benefit of one or both children

Especially the mother who called her son's "twin"

I only know of one set of twins whose parents requested that they go into the same form. All the others have requested separate forms, even eschewing the naice village primary in favour of the bigger school in town so that there would actually be more than one form in the year

But there are some people who dress their twins in identical clothes and ensure they do everything together. I am in the "treat them as individuals" camp, but it amazes me how many parents of twins are not.

One form is quite nice in Reception, but I think it can be limiting later on.

Often there will be fewer extra curricular activities simply because there are less staff to offer them, there can be fewer children in each ability range which can limit opportunities to work in groups of the same ability or to set pupils with each ability having a teacher instead of just a TA. There can be struggles to get together teams or to staff them. Bother can be friendship issues which are impossible to escape.

I had the same decision to make..

I went for the 2FE on the advice of DDs key worker.. we felt DD would benefit from more chances to form friendships..

Also.. the 2FE is a primary and the 1fe is a infant and it worried me where people would go for middle school and that over half go private

DD is now in year 1 in the 2FE.. loving school and has a best friend and a lovely group of friends she plays with

Of all the parents I went to twins club with only one separated but they have gone to bigger school so have the option later.