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Primary education

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

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Original poster

Visited 2 independant schools now........

16 replies

nikki81 · 01/05/2007 12:45

Hi. We are looking at private school for our DD whi will start in september. OH works away all week so I went to look at one on my own today and we saw one together last weekend. Will name them school 1 and 2 for easy reading! School 1 is lovely, set in gorgeous grounds, lots of facilities but 15 miles away, 16 in a class. School 2 is 10 miles away, set in town with restricted parking but still a nice school, not half as much garden as sch 1, also only about 10 in each class. The fees are pretty similar. I just don't know now, my head feels like a blur and the amount of travelling I will have to do but we feel this is the only option now. Any advise please?

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scatterbrain · 01/05/2007 12:47

Sounds like you prefer School 1 as you called it lovely ?

If you're going to be driving 10 miles anyway another 5 isn't much different - so don't let the distance be an issue.

Which one felt nicer to you ?

happybiggirl · 01/05/2007 12:48

Message withdrawn

scatterbrain · 01/05/2007 12:48

By the way - smaller classes are not necessarily better - teachers seem to prefer teaching slightly more than 10 - 16 sounds great !

Gameboy · 01/05/2007 12:48

Sounds a long way to drive your school to kids every day?

lemonaid · 01/05/2007 12:51

What about the feel of each place? How did the children seem when you looked round? Have you talked to parents who have their children at each of them?

I wouldn't let the distance be the deciding factor given that even the closer school is ten miles away.

babygrand · 01/05/2007 12:53

I would look at where the children go when they leave - ie are they preparing them for state and/or private at 11? It needs to fit in with what you plan to do for your children then. What are their exam results like/SATS etc?

But ultimately, you have to go with your 'gut' feeling about whether you like the place and feel your dc will be comfortable there.

Original poster

nikki81 · 01/05/2007 13:36

Hi. Wow thanks for your replies! School 2 we visited when they had an open day so the children were not in classrooms. This school I would have to drive through town and probably get stuck in traffic! School 1 would be through main roads so wont really get stuck in much traffic. Both schools prepare for 11+ and go onto good state schools or grammer school. School 2 they can stay until 16. The children were happy and it seemed like just a small classed primary school really which I liked at school 2. Sorry if there is so much info!

OP posts:

PrincessPeaHead · 01/05/2007 13:37

school 1
small classes not always better when it comes to putting together teams etc
also maybe smaller classes because less popular
anyway you like 1 better, so 1 it is

Original poster

nikki81 · 01/05/2007 13:37

Sorry school 1 seemed like a small sized primary school with lots of grounds for the children to play.

OP posts:

Original poster

nikki81 · 01/05/2007 13:38

Thanks! Will have to get OH to come and look around with me.

OP posts:

LIZS · 01/05/2007 13:46

You do need to factor in the distance /drive time . Can you drive both at the time you would actually be doing it am and pm . Town traffic/parking is a factor espeically if , like ours which ostensibly has plenty fo private parking, on match afternoons it gridlocks at pick up! Also you and she may well find it tiring , especially in winter when it will be dark when you leave and by the time you get home.

tbh I think 10 per class although seeming idyllic can be rather limiting unless they have several parallel classes to do games, music , drama etc together. dd's is 17 atm and seems a nice number. Also when you compare fees make sure you are comparing like with like - lunches, trips, dancing, swimming, after school care/activities and so on. Do both these schools have spaces for September as that seems a bit unusual at this stage.

poppy101 · 01/05/2007 13:51

Sometimes only have 10 in a class can be restricting and can limit the children when they play at breaktimes, it only gives them so much opportunity to mix.

If you are driving 10 or 15 miles, and by the sounds of it the first school sounds nice, then I personally would choose the 1st school with slightly more children.

You need to ask why have this class only got 10 in ? If they really limit the size then that could be great, why has the other school got 16 in a class, more popular etc.

Good luck with your choice.

newgirl · 01/05/2007 14:10

def do the drives at 8.30 am - in the rain! its exhausting for child being a commuter

ask what the max class size is - are the schools not full for some reason?

10 is too few - eg five boys/five girls so potentially four friends of one sex, so not a lot to choose from socially

good luck!

BirdyArms · 01/05/2007 14:30

I think that 10 in a class is too small. I went to a tiny primary school with only 4 girls in my year. Two were best friends from the word go which left me and another girl who was very quiet and a bit odd. I was left kind of hanging round the periphery of the 2 best friends feeling unpopular. Has made me anxious about making friends since although I always got on fine at later schools.

SparklePrincess · 01/05/2007 21:19

I also think that a class of 10 is too small. My dd is one of only 6 girls in her year group & is finding it very hard because none of the others are on her wavelength

SpringBunny · 01/05/2007 21:58

Look at things like how approachable are the teachers - you are going to have a long term relationship with them and have to like them and feel they will talk to you with any problems (not like my dd's teacher who hides behind her desk in the moringn and a pillar in the pm )

Also look at how they teach - are they taking account of all the new stuff on reading, what suits your dd best etc, and how is the transtion to Yr 1 handled. At my dc's school it is a very sudden transition from mainly play to 99% work, whereas another we have looked at seems much more relaxed and has a sandpit in the Yr 1 classroom

Has your dd been to look at them - they oftne get a gut feeling about things so i would take her to look too.

Good luck!

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