Which primary?

[3in4years]

I know it's up to me and I think I've chosen but would be interested in outside views.

We are moving house so my son has to move schools in his reception year. We also have 2 younger kids and both schools have preschools and wraparound care.
The new house is near 2 schools.

1. 3 min walk from the house

Ofsted Good from 2017 Next to a council estate 30 students per year Good results especially value added Space for us now

1. 10 min walk from the house

Ofsted outstanding but last inspected 2008 38 students per year (one teacher and 3 TAs) Excellent reputation and top results nationally Head changing at Christmas No spaces but we can appeal or wait

Thoughts? Thanks (I know how lucky we are to be near such good schools)

Start at 1 and stay on the waiting list for 2, see how you feel if/when a space comes up?

Extremely unusual for it to be 38 in Reception, would an appeal have even the slightest chance?

Thanks. I don't really want him to go to 3 primaries, so will avoid that if possible.
It is unusual to have such big classes but it is a very successful school. There are 38 in some years and 37 in reception. I wonder how appeal would go given there is a space locally for us anyway.

I think you need to look quite carefully into whether the appeal would come under Infant Class Size rules, for which you’d need to know the Pupil Admission Number (PAN) (assuming you’re in England). If it does, then the appeal can essentially only be won if there has been a mistake made.

Surely you have to go to the one with a space?

If a space were to come up at the second school, I can't really advise you based on what you have given us. On paper, both sound fine. You need to visit both. How do they feel? Do you like the staff? Do the children look happy? What do the parents at the school gate say? Etc etc?

I guess there’s also the question of how long are you willing to wait (and presumably home educate in the meantime), and how likely is it that a space will come up?

Thank you. My gut says 1 but everyone I say this to IRL can't believe I wouldn't go for 2. I visited both and liked both.

Definitely go with your gut.

I'd say 1 too. Closest school every time unless compelling reason why not. I know they should be plus points but to be honest "Ofsted outstanding" and "great results" sets alarm bells ringing. Obviously I don't know your school but this could be indicative of the school having a particularly conformist intake, plus SATS factory in Y6.

What reason would you have to appeal school 2? You need a pretty strong one to actually get in

If you wait for a space to become available then that could take years, plus you might not be at the top of the waiting list anyway. There is always the risk that the space in school 1 will be gone by then, leaving you with a worse school further away