New school being opened - not sure what to do!!

[Piplette]

We live in a area undergoing significant development and expansion. So much so that they are expanding primary school places but rather than expanding existing school they are building a new one.

Our postcode puts us in the catchment for the new school although we would not be forced to move.

The new school is further away from our home - over a mile vs. Half a mile for the current school.

The new school promises amazing facilities while the current school needs investment but the staff/culture etc is fantastic.

My daughter is in year 1 and this new school should be ready by the start of year 2. Her current class is almost being split in two with half (including some of her best friends) moving to the new school. It's so disruptive for them and I can sense her getting worried.

This isn't helped by the fact that many parents are still undecided about whether to move or not - for some it's a no brainer as it will dramatically decrease the distance to school. Others are attracted more to what it promises but are concerned on its ability to deliver and the impact of teething problems.

I just don't know what's best for my daughter and while I know choosing to move or stay based on friendship groups is crazy, the thought of my daughter being left behind while all of her friends move makes me slightly anxious - she loves school but mostly because of her friends!

Not sure what to do for the best 😔

I'd always rate good teaching above good facilities. It's the teaching and general approach within a school that really counts.

With a new school it takes a while to find out what the teaching and school feel is like. For that reason I'd probably stay where I know the school teaching and general culture is already good.

It sounds very disruptive for the children and the school as a whole though. What a difficult position for everyone to be put in.

Is the new school definitely opening to all year levels when it does open? Last time a new school opened near me it was for one year group only - took 6 or 7 years to fill the school.

If she has great teaching at the current school I would probably leave her there. Presuming that the facilities are ok even if not as good as the new school's.

If you’re happy with the staff/culture and the current school is nearer much better to stay there than take the gamble of an unknown school.

New friendship groups will be sorted quickly at that age.

Personally I would keep my child where they are, assuming your DD is happy there.

We had a new high school open, a bit further away from where we lived, they wrote to me asking if I would like to view the facilities and see if my son would like to move there etc. We weren’t interested, as my DS’ school was rated outstanding and had adequate facilities, nice teaching staff etc. Some children moved and then later returned, the new school closed in under 2 years, what a total waste of time & money.

Teaching is better than facilities. Living closer is better in rush hour traffic is better than new facilities.

We went to look at a brand new fancy school when my DS started. The new headteacher (big emphasis on new here, because there was a high turnover of staff) spent most of the visit showing us how the fancy windows closed and opened automatically. There was little focus on teaching, she didn't know a child's name and I caught one of the staff giving her the worst evil glare ever. It just had a horrible atmosphere. We sent DS to the 100 year old school five minutes walk from the house. The head teacher is very much no nonsense and I'm glad we made the choice we did. My childminder picks up kids from the other school and she always says ours seems to be doing things much better than the new one.

No local authority can force children out of a school! This is wrong. They are entitled to stay where they are. Anyone moving is daft, in my view. Let the new school build up gradually. The head of your current school has pay based on size of school. Is the head really happy for 50% of pupils disappearing? I have never ever seen this happen. Or even be suggested.

At the new school there is an Untested head. You don’t know them. Teething problems are guaranteed. Small cohort for sport, music, drama and clubs. Teachers you don’t know. Why would anyone move?

The LA has adjusted the catchment for new intake (they cannot do it retrospectively) but I wouldn’t move if dc was settled and had great teaching. A shiny new school would never trump that. As for friends moving: parents obviously don’t care about friendships. Sad really.

Will they not just open to Yr. R initially?

@MuddyWalks

Will they not just open to Yr. R initially?

This is what has happened to the new schools opened near us. The first is full now after 6 years, the 2nd lot of yr6 are about to complete. The second has just got yrR and yr1 in the primary part as well as only yr7 and yr8 in the secondary.

Will the two schools be academies? The same academy? Are all the teachers remaining at the old school or are some having to move to the new?

What are the facilities in the new school that are so great?

We had a brand new primary on our doorstep open the Sept before dd1 started.
It's a fantastic school as the head openly admitted if they don't get ofsted outstanding with 40 kids they never will.
It wasn't right in my opinion for dd1 because she would have so few children older than her. Her friend, our next door neighbour went and loves it.
Went to look at it again for dd2 & it is still fantastic but was too loud for dd2. My best friend's daughter is there and doing brilliantly.
In your situation if she is settled and thriving I would stick with current school but I would imagine there would still be a place later on if you changed your mind.

but was too loud for dd2

I’m intrigued by the thought of one school being louder than another school-so loud, that you don’t think your child would have been able to attend?

Were there problems with the acoustics of the building?

@howshouldibehave
She's deaf and wears hearing aids.
It was a 3 form entry school. The layout of the classrooms with a large shared space at the entrance to the reception class area and a (correct for EYFS) focus on moving around meant that on open day music in hub area was carrying to far end of the furthest classroom where there was a small group intervention. I judged that she would struggle in that environment compared to 2 form entry with divider that can be open or shut and shared space outside.
I was explaining my decision and that although it's a fantastic school with amazing facilities and brand new not all schools suit all children.

Thanks all. It will open to all years from day 1.

We're awaiting confirmation of who the Head teacher will be and whether or not teaching staff from existing school might move - there is definitely a chance that some teachers such as deputy head may take the opportunity to step up causing more disruption as we lose staff as well as pupils.

My gut says stay for now and see how things play out - let them get established and then decide if a move at a later date is best.

Why would a move be best? What could you gain?

I would have thought your existing school head and Governors would be furious about all years being admitted. It could be turmoil for them. Losing children means losing lots of budget. So managing that, reorganising classes and teachers is work that was avoidable. I would be furious if I was leading your school.

There was a new school built at the end of our road when DD1 was starting. We put it second and luckily got our first choice which was further away. The new school had a lot of teething problems and lots of kids moved in the first few weeks. It's since settled down and now has outstanding Ofsted but for the first 3 years there was a lot of movement from there to our school and the local C of E school. Sounds like you'd have the option to move later if you really wanted to.

I’d keep my children where they are if they’re happy, no question.

I'm confused about why you think the staff from the existing school will /might move to the new school. Unless the new school is part of existing school there is no reason why staff would move.

It’s not wholly unusual for a deputy head to move to be the new head at a nearby school. It’s not unheard of for staff to change jobs if they get promotion. Generally happy staff only move for this reason. There is rarely lots of movement to a new school. Ditto with the children.

It's not unusual for a deputy head to apply for headships and if they live in the area they will apply for jobs locally .

It is likely that the year groups above reception will be half year groups, ie only taking in half the published admissions number.

My advice would be to keep them where they are unless they are unhappy. New schools often encountered teething problems and not knowing the leadership is a bit off-putting. A new school needs strong leadership.

Locally we had a new school opening and several children have drifted back to their old schools because parents were unhappy with issues raised.

If half a year group disappear from the OP’s school, that is devastating to the school budget! It will force teachers to move due to redundancies. This should be avoided by school planning. Usually new schools open to meet need. A large new estate etc. They should not be built to take dc from other good schools and cause financial concerns. Or teacher losses.

@presentingPercy it is driven my need.

Our village is under significant development with around 2000 new houses being built over next few years. Current school is bursting at the seams so new school will relieve pressure.

So it’s likely they will expect dc from the new homes to fill the school. That’s normal. Your school shouldn’t accept over PAN. However dc cannot be asked to leave. Pan is partly worked out based on size of classrooms. Most heads resist going over pan.

[quote Piplette]@presentingPercy it is driven my need.

Our village is under significant development with around 2000 new houses being built over next few years. Current school is bursting at the seams so new school will relieve pressure.[/quote]
We have a similar situation in our village. No one is know is considering moving their children to the new school (I’m sure there are some who are but theyre definitely the minority). The assumption is that the new school will predominantly serve the new housing estate.
My children are happy where they are so I haven’t even thought about moving them.