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Original poster

Which school would you choose?

34 replies

polexiaaphrodesia · 03/10/2019 14:36

Hoping for some perspective on which school to choose now we've seen a couple and would really appreciate some input based on your experience as I am totally clueless about what to choose and DH is not being very helpful!
School A
-10 mins walk
-Ofsted Good rating
-Headteacher will be going on maternity leave from February 2020.
-School becoming an academy in April 2020
-School is in a slightly less desirable area of the town and traditionally hasn't had a brilliant reputation but this may change based on the Ofsted rating. KS2 results similar to other schools in the area.

School B
-7 minute drive and not really walkable in winter.
-Fab headteacher, staff and children seemed really happy and clearly adored her as every class we went into they wanted to show her their work, tell her about their day etc.
-Ofsted Outstanding rating

I guess I'm really weighing up convenience over atmosphere. The children in School A seemed happy enough but were so engaged in School B and you could really tell that they were enjoying their lessons, concentrating but also had the opportunity to have a lot of fun along the way. Argh! So difficult!

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Drogosnextwife · 03/10/2019 14:38

School B

MirandaWest · 03/10/2019 14:39

Are you likely to be able to get a place at school B?

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 03/10/2019 14:40

@MirandaWest it's a 3 form intake and based on the last couple of years yes we would but obviously not guaranteed

OP posts:
LoveWine123 · 03/10/2019 14:50

I would always go for the school that I perceive to be better for my child...convenience is great, but will not be the key thing when it comes to education for my children. Just my 2 cents.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 03/10/2019 14:52

School B

SarahTancredi · 03/10/2019 14:55

Is it still a 7 minute drive in rush hour?

A 7 min drive then can become a 40 min drive.

When was school b last inspected? Many outstanding schools haven't been re inspected for up to 10 years. Many also drop in grade considerably when they are.

A good school 10 min.walk.away sounds fab tbh.

But I'd worry about academisation.

Still, traffic jams.do my head in so unless.its rural and theres one car every 45 mins I'd probably fo school.A

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 03/10/2019 15:00

Thank you everyone, it's good to hear your perspectives. I think I need to do a few trial runs of the School B school run to see how it goes although DS will be in breakfast and after school clubs so will be outside the usual times.

OP posts:
BottleOfJameson · 03/10/2019 15:41

School B would be my first choice.

Raera · 03/10/2019 15:46

Probably school B as first choice but make sure you put more choices as well. If you don't get your first preference and have made no other choices you could end up miles away in a not so good, hence unpopular school.
I speak as an Appeals panel member

Pipandmum · 03/10/2019 15:47

B

sirfredfredgeorge · 03/10/2019 15:47

A, you can walk, they get as good results as the more privileged intakes so they must do a lot right, so no reason to take the shit commute.

aggitatedstate · 03/10/2019 15:50

B

SleepWarrior · 03/10/2019 15:50

B all the way from what you've said. A happy school with engaged kids and teachers that all like their head sounds like a great atmosphere and would make me choose there (less bothered about ofsted).

BarbariansMum · 03/10/2019 16:21

School B sounds the best but how far away (in miles) is it? Having local friends and, in a few years, being able to make your own way to and from school is really important. I'd also second trying the route and parking in rush hour.

Original poster
polexiaaphrodesia · 03/10/2019 17:04

Thank you @raera, will definitely be using all of our choices. School B is 2.4 miles away but in the same town as school A. And yes, will definitely be trying to find out what the parking situation is like. Really appreciate everyone's perspectives, it's such a hard decision to make!

OP posts:
RedskyLastNight · 03/10/2019 20:09

Local school would always win for me unless there were huge cons. And you haven't mentioned any.
If you go for the local school remember it's not just getting there at school run time, but for school assemblies, parents' evenings, sports days, and to drop off forgotten lunch boxes and school bags. Plus if your DC's friends live near the school you will be forever facilitating play dates and your DC will never have friends local enough to get to independently (not an issue at 4, but more so at 9/10).

RedskyLastNight · 03/10/2019 20:10

.... I meant of course "If you go for the further away school ..." in my 2nd paragraph

Cuddlysnowleopard · 03/10/2019 20:13

B. I wouldn't be swayed by the ofsted report, but go with your gut feeling.

Ratcatcher9 · 03/10/2019 20:16

Yes, School B. But keep your perspective should you not get a place and instead get offered School A, because I'm sure your children will be perfectly happy at School A and it being walking distance is a bonus when it's snowing!

Spied · 03/10/2019 20:19

A
Local school. Easy to walk to. No issues getting there. Good report. Local friends. No issues with parking.
Not everyone may love the head teacher in B am sure and she doesn't come with the school- could leave at any time.
Replacement headteacher at B maybe fantastic and likely an experienced headteacher to smooth the transition to academy.

Bugsymalonemumof2 · 03/10/2019 20:41

My 7 minute drive not walkable school run easily takes me 35 minutes. It's an incredible school but already draining me 4 weeks in

DialANumber · 03/10/2019 20:52

School A every time.

Go to your local school. Walk to it. Make local friends that your child can independently travel with in later years. Having a school you can walk to is a brilliant bonus when you forget something, have multiple events, need someone else to do pick up for you etc etc. Building extra driving and parking into your every single day is such a drag.

There are no guarantees with staffing and it's not sensible to choose a school based on a member of staff who could leave at any point.

School B is a 3 form entry school - are the children so keen to speak to the head because they get v little time with her and does she have a clue who they are?! How big is school a?

BubblesBuddy · 03/10/2019 21:02

I’ve been a governor of two primary schools with 3 form entry and Heads do know all the children! They like to see Heads and Show Work. Of course the Head of school B knows the DC.

Honestly all this angst over a couple of miles! Is it impossible traffic? You must know. You go to work already. B would be my choice. A second.

happytoday73 · 03/10/2019 21:06

B.... If that's the school you feel is best for your child..

SarahTancredi · 03/10/2019 21:12

Honestly all this angst over a couple of miles! Is it impossible traffic? You must know. You go to work already

Sounds like no big deal however depending on the road situation it can be.

My kids went/go to a school 4 miles away. Between.roadworks, burst water mains, rush hour traffic, accidents the journey over the years has taken anything from.15 mins to over 2 hours.

Depends completely on the area of course but one.set of road works that go on fir a few months and this journey can become ridiculous

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