Whichschoolwouldyouchoose?

[Neitherhisorthat]

I'm in a bit of a dilemma trying to decide between two primary schools.

One is a very large school, within walking distance, quite strict. It has a small range of extra curriculum activities and my feeling is because it is a large school, it would pick the 'cream of the crop' to make up teams and less sporty and academic children would be left by the wayside as long as they didn't cause trouble.
The other is half the size, a short drive away, less formal environment, with fewer rules and regulations and I feel my (quiet) children would benefit from this. It doesn't take part in as many activities but they make a point of including every child. As a result, they don't win much but it is all inclusive.
Neither school particularly outshines the other academically.

Which one would you choose if you had the choice and why?

The second one. A strict enviroment isn't necessary for learning, IMO, and your heart sounds set on the second.

How big is it, though? Small schools can be tough if you/ds don't get along with some others. A smaller friendship pool, if you will.

I would prefer the smaller school because it is small and sounds like it has a warmer atmosphere. It would be good if this was the one that was within walking distance as that has many benefits including living closer to classmates. You could list the pros and cons of each and decide what is more important to you.

Depends on your child and what you think suits them. Walking distance is nice but not at the expense of everything else.

I think walking distance is a MASSIVE plus point, over 7 years (or more if you have more than one dc). Not just for the usual walk to and fro, but all the other things they need to be there for / when your car is in the garage or gets stolen or written off / when you have an op or an illness or accident and can't drive / when the dc are old enough to want to walk home themselves / for them to have friends to walk to and fro with / for them to see friends out of school.
Remember they won't be 4, or 5, or 6 for long.

The location is the main reason I'm in such a dilemma. As Backforgood said, walking distance would mean a little longer in bed in the mornings, no traffic would mean no stress of being late and they would have friends near home.

The school sizes are over 1000 pupils v 500 pupils so the second school isn't tiny.

When you say it's a short drive how far do you mean? Is it walkable when older? Even if it isn't, it's still very close. I'd travel for the right school.

Have you visited both schools? Consider visiting both schools a second time

Do other children from the smaller school live in your area?

Wow. Those are big schools.

The second by a country mile, but the distance is an issue I think. No way to walk it? Are there children from your neck of the woods at the school?

Are they both state schools or private ? If the 2nd school is a drive away have you checked your realistic chances of getting in? And also how do you know the first is strict? Did you pick that up on your visit or do you know people at the school ? Similarly the info about the other being more relaxed, how accurate is that information ?
I chose a school that was driving distance away rather than school that was walking distance. It is a trade off. It would be lovely to walk to school and so much easier for play dates but the school I chose is lovely and a better environment for my children so for me it's worth the additional journey time

Thanks for all your replies. I'll try to answer some of the questions.

We could not walk to the second school. It would take over an hour. It is about a thirty minutes drive in traffic We could also drive ten minutes and walk twenty minutes if we wanted to but I' don't see the advantage of this other than getting some exercise when the weather allows. The majority of children travel to it and playdatees would have to be organised and probably less frequently.

The majority of pupils in the first school would live locally. Playdates would be a lot easier. However it is a built up area and a big school and I'm concerned the children would become lost in the crowd unless they were outstanding in something (or known for the wrong reasons).

I have visited both schools. I felt the atmosphere was different in the second school. I have also spoken to someone who runs an extra curriculum activity in both schools who confirmed what I picked up on myself. From what I observed the children were less shy in the second school. It also seems to give a lot of things a try, some work out but other things don't. The first school has fewer activities but what is there is established.

We will get into both so the choice is ours This seemed like an advantage originally. Now it has led to so much confusion it is beginning to feel like a disadvantage.

30 minute drive?! Eeesh. That would be my decision made.

But then you must live somewhere very different to me.

We have 7 states primary schools within a 10 minute drive of us (& only 2 would we get into)

Given that discrepancy in travel, I would jump at the first one! But also quiz them about how they get everyone involved in various activities and how they ensure no-one is overlooked in such a big school - five form entry? They should have some good answers for that.

30 minutes drive is too far at primary level. It won't matter so much in infants but as your DC get older it will also mean that they can never go and see their friends independently, and you will likely get sick of driving too and from school (not just for the school run, but when/if they forget things, parents' evenings, school concerts. Plus that's an hour of there day (and 2 of yours unless you work near there?) sat in a car day in, day out ... Would you even get in, if it's so far away?

1000 pupils is 5 form entry? Although it probably feels big they will do everything in smaller groups and DC are no more likely to get lost than at a smaller school. Plus it's worth pointing out that your quiet DC will benefit from a strict school as it means there isn't so much low (and not so low) classroom disruption, which DOES mean the quiet DC being overlooked.

Yikes, that's quite a distance. But equally, it sounds a lot better than the first school. I would be tempted to go for school 2 and look to move closer to it. I am very opposed to formality in primaries.

The distance is fifteen minutes but in school traffic, it is thirty.

The local friends is a huge advantage. However given the schools' population, kids come from areas that are a bit rough too. While this wouldn't affect school friendships, I would be reluctant to go to some of these areas or leave my children there.

I would go for second one but try to move a bit closer as long as that still works for secondary schools.

It would be ideal to move but the area is outside our budget unfortunately.

I think Id go local. The advantages are huge. Id never drive an hour a day to school unless zero option

In face its 2 hours a day. We are a big school and love the fact that where ever we go, the DC see people they know. Its dead easy to have friends over - impromptu play dates the norm from yr2 upwards. By yr5 they walk to each other's houses etc

The small school has 500 pupils? That's considered a large school where we are. Most less than 100.

Ours is 800 ish inc nursery. DC know everyone in their years and seems to know all the DC in all years !! There is tons of extra curr but its not obvious if you look at the web site - endless sports stuff, 2 choirs, about 50% play an instrument. With e.g. 10 girls chosen out of 45 for a netball team squad a good % still get a go. The school can always participate in everything as there are enough to do things and some times they rotate who gets a go.
The time spend not commuting can be used for out of school sports clubs, cubs and brownies, drama groups etc - not obvious when they are 4 but huge by age 7-8

Most schools near us are 3 form entry BTW. One form schools are almost extinct as we are in a city. Some are 2 form, but only where there is no where to expand.