School A or B - which would you go for?

[AngelTrain]

We are in the very fortunate position of having two good primary schools nearby. We live close to both and based on admissions data from previous years, we should get a place at whichever we choose if we put it first on our list.

I know that's an amazing position to be in so I am NOT complaining but...I don't know how to choose! Wondering if MNers have any wisdom. Which would you go for and why?

School A

• small school, one form entry
• slightly more practical, closer to shops and train station and likely to be closer to nursery for DS (not yet born!)
• faith school (not an issue for me as I attend church, although DH doesn't)
• closer to main road so worse from pollution point of view I guess
• rated outstanding in 2017
• headteacher young, new, less experienced but full of ideas and enthusiasm

School B

• much larger school, 3 form entry (sometimes 4 in oversubscribed years)
• also rated outstanding but longer ago (2011?)
• academically neck and neck with school A, although has a higher proportion of kids applying to the grammar school
• not a faith school
• DD already attends pre school there and has settled in really well
• headteacher older, more established, clearly strong leader and really knows her stuff

What else should I be thinking about/considering? We like the ethos and culture of both to be honest

I would look at clubs and activities on offer if I couldn’t decide on academics. Also definitely look at the older DC in the school. Yours won’t be in YR forever. What’s available higher up the school? Drama, music, sport, art, trips out, etc. Which school gives you a buzz? Which school would build on your DCs strengths? Young staff often move on. There is no guarantee they will stay.

A 2011 inspection is useless in terms of decision making. However you are at the attached nursery so you must have some idea as to the calibre of the larger school at the moment. Are other parents happy with it?

DC do make friends happily in a single class but it can be an issue if there is an imbalance of genders making the pool of friends small. Making permanent friends with older DC isn’t always easy to sustain out of school.

I would try and look round both the schools again and go to any Christmas fairs and activities if possible. Faith schools are often sought after but by a self selecting group of parents who have done their time in church to join the club. I’m never really keen on that because it’s exclusive, not inclusive. The larger school might not have a faith in its name but it could be far more inclusive and welcoming to all.

I'd say my DD is neither particularly confident, nor particularly shy - somewhere in between! She's often shy at first but then fine once she settles in.

Surprisingly it's school A (the smaller school) which seems to offer more clubs and activities. School B mostly just offers sports clubs. I think that the headteacher is more of a believer in focusing on the academic side of things.

Definitely going to the Christmas fairs!

OP you listed the schools in an order for us.
That's the order you need.

School A might have more parents running clubs. This could be very positive. If you go into the schools have a chat to the parents there.

I would definitely go for B too. It sounds like a more solid choice. And bigger schools offer more options for clubs, friends and so on.

I like smaller schools though they often get bad comments on MM my experience and that of friends have overwhelmingly been positive.
However having said that I also think there is a lot to say about familiarity and if your dd is already at school B I would only move if you are uncomfortable with the school.