Wwyd? Dh and I can't quite agree

[Marvelendgamekids]

Ds starts school in September. He's been offered our higher preference school. It's a church school which I like (I know others wouldn't), good ofsted, good results, our eldest went there (now left) as we lived in the area at the time, but it's 1.5 miles away. So a good 30 minutes walk, although as I work I'd be driving and using the wrap around childcare anyway a lot of the time, so a 3 minute drive.

I'm having second thoughts, there is another school a 5 minute walk from our house. Ofsted and results haven't been very good at all recently, but, it's still a nice local school. I could walk him to/from school some mornings and afternoons which I always wanted to do, an he might make more friends locally. Oh and the school still have places. Downside is if I was driving to go straight off to work, it's actually more awkward due to having to go all the way around a one way system and school being in the middle of a housing estate.

I'm really torn, dh thinks we should just let it be and stick with the church school, but equally he hasn't got a strong opinion and is happy to leave it to me. Other people think I'm mad not to just send him to the closest school.

Send him to the better school.

If you'll be driving some of the time anyway it won't make that much difference how local it is.

If the local school still has spaces you always have the option to move if the church school doesn't work out. It will be much harder to move into a very good school (because they'll be no spaces).

Think green! Go local. He will walk to school when he’s older and it would be better for friends. Don’t clog up the school road with your car and walk to the nearest. It’s a no brainer really. Better exercise too! He might even meet friends on the way.

Have you been to see the other school? Logically would it work with your job?

You can't change at this point anyway can you? I know you could put him on the waiting list but there's no guarantee that a place will come up surely?

If you are driving for work anyway and were happy with the first school when your eldest was there I would stick to that.
Regarding friendships 1.5 miles is a pretty small distance. Many primaries will have that for a catchment so I would not worry from that aspect.

A friend of mine is moving 20 minutes away from her boys current school. We also have people coming from across town so it’s not that bad a distance.

We chose a school on my way to work, but we moved to be closer to the school within 6 months as it was such a pain driving (and not really close enough to walk if I wasn't going to the office).

I’d stick to the good school you have. If the local one is not as good as you’re hoping you will absolutely kick yourself. Also 1.5 miles is nothing with regards to local friends.

What secondary school do they feed into and does that impact your decision?

1.5 miles really isn't that far. He could scoot while you walk fast/jog, and when he's older you could both cycle.

Better school 100 pc

Re. the friends thing, every other child isn't going to live next door to the school, so whilst your 1.5 miles from school you could be 3 miles from his friends (if they're 1.5 miles in the opposite direction) or they could live 2 minutes away if they're also 1.5 miles from school in your direction.

Go wherever is either more convenient or where he would make more friends. For Primary IMO (3 teenage sons) it barely matters the Ofsted score as its all about the Three Rs, which they will do wherever. Its secondary where this matters.

Stick with the church school. If its a 3 minute drive you'll still be able to socialise with his school friends easily. I can't really understand what you are worried about.

Obviously no one cares about clogging up roads and emissions on this thread!

Would you turn down the best job for you in order to take less good, but walking distance, job just to save 'clogging the roads'?

You could maybe cycle it when he is older. For now you could drive part way and then walk. If he is in wrap around care then he will have time to play with friends then, on your days off he will probably just chill out or he could do a club - swimming, beavers etc. What did your older dc do for friends? What did you think of the other school school when you looked around?

You only have one chance to get your child a good education. Send him to the better school, even if you are inconvenienced by having to drive a few minutes out of your way.