How to choose between 4 different schools

[Willow4987]

We’re lucky in that we have the option of 4 different primary schools for DS1 (I know it’s early but I’m a planner )

Having looked at the intake etc it’s seems like we would probably get into a first choice but I’m unsure how to choose which I like the most (and then which for 2nd/3rd choice)

We will be looking at all of them (if allowed) in the autumn to get a feel as I understand this can have a big impact

So the 4 schools:

1 - in the local town, recent academy but no recent ofsted. Prior the change to academy it was requires improvement. Easy walking distance and good for making local friends
2 - in the local town, also academy but rated as requires improvement and has been this way for the last 8 years. Easy walking distance as well
3 - local village, rated good, very small school so small class sizes (but years 1-6 are doubled year groups). 10–15 min drive so not as convenient or good for making local friends
4 - fairly new school built about 10-15 min drive away. Rated good but not as convenient etc

My gut feel from looking at the websites and prospectus is between school 1 and 3.

So I suppose, if you came to a deadlock between schools, what would sway it for you - convenience/local friends vs better ofsted?

School 1. Local friends are a tie breaker for me

visit them (if its allowed) its the only way to know-(check if there is an online presence or if your area has a local facebook page -check that but of course many people rubbish everything
& get the ethos/feeling of how the teacher & students react

With primary schools I would always keep it simple and go with the closest one that isn't shit.

If no clear outrightbthen local.

Get a feel for a school if allowed to visit.

Remember whist small schools are nice can mean no chance of seperaring children, also my ds went to 2 form.intake but felt very small by the time he left.

I would avoid tying myself into driving if there was a reasonable alternative

With all else being equal, walking distance. I'm on school number four now. (Well, DDs are, five if you count the one attended for a week). First was 10min walk or 5mins by bike. At first my then 2yo could make that walk 45mins... She sped up to 20mins by four years old. Elder sister, who was four when she started, no problems with walk, or bike.
Second school, 5mins walk, half hour on school bus. Was a long day for four year olds.
Third school... 2mile drive. Could vary from 7mins (no traffic, kind traffic lights) to 45 minutes on the worst occasion. Not counting the road getting closed once due to snow when we were out and having to leave the car behind and walk it.
(Other school... Council provided taxi... Really didn't like this transport method)
Current school. Whole school run takes five minutes by foot.

The advantage of walking over driving is there are no other fact affecting your journey. Not to mention the parking issues.

Obviously, this only counts if the schools don't have much to chose between them. But good website doesn't necessarily mean good school. Or flashy buildings. Or even Ofsted. Hopefully you will be allowed to visit schools in the autumn. Meanwhile, look at school data. Gives more accurate idea than Ofsted, especially progress scores.

Thanks everyone...you’ve confirmed what I suspected - that a local school would trump others

I suppose the hard part is my DH thinks the ofsted trumps everything but I’m looking for more of a balance.

Really hoping we can see them in the autumn and it becomes an easy decision

@Aroundtheworldin80moves sorry I cross posted with you - where do you get school data from? I’ve only heard of ofsted and been struggling to find anything else

You need to go to the school, and visit them to get a feel of the place. Read the Ofsted report carefully, and see whether the points highlighted are important to you. Remember, they are only a snapshot of the school.

Small schools may seem good on paper, but not always in reality. It means that friendship groups could be limited, as well as afternoon clubs etc. Partly because there isn’t the manpower to run these clubs, and partly because there’s not enough children to attend. Will there be enough kids to form a football or netball team, for example?

Also consider parking outside these schools. Is there plenty of room? In my dc’s primary, some mums use to park 45+ minutes before school finishing time to get a spot near the school.

If it’s in the margins, a school where you walk, and not too small- needs to be big enough that there’s teams or after school clubs and allows for a variety of friendship groups.

My gut feel from looking at the websites and prospectus is between school 1 and 3.

What do you mean by doubled year groups in school three? If you mean year one and two are together that would put me off.

I don't like small schools in general. It can be the case that the staff are overloaded. Eg they have to be in charge of maths, history and IT. And run an assembly a week. And SEND provision. And the Nativity. And assessment. And football club on Wednesday.

Shortest walking distance!
We were at a school a mile away for nursery, the drive and parking were an absolute nightmare and we were always running late as result.
She got into the school on our street for reception (nursery much smaller and we moved part way through nursery year so didn't get a space) and honestly it's so much better and easier, she can walk to school with her little mates and we're never late!
Does help that it's a brilliant school too though :)

School data
www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables

Do not underestimate the value of a school in easy walking distance. Especially at 8.30 am and you can only find 1 PE pump and no hairbrushes....

Small schools sound tempting but actually have many, many downsides. It’s much easier to end up isolated at a small school if a child is different for any reason and much easier to have better facilities/specialised skilled teachers and support staff etc at a larger school.
It’s much easier to cope with finishing last on sports day when there are 10 races for each year group so 10 kids who’ve had the same result. Similarly, the children at the extremes academically will have a more enjoyable and beneficial time with more children at a similar level than being on their own.

@SavoyCabbage yeah exactly that. Reception are on their own but then it’s 1&2 in the same classroom etc

@Aroundtheworldin80moves thanks for the link I’ll take a look

You’ve raised good points about school clubs and having more children in the bigger schools to fit in with. DS1 is an august baby so will just be 4 when he goes and is already painfully shy in large social situations. He’s better when he has a similar friend to speak to so hopefully being in a slightly larger school may help that

Convenience trumps a lot of other factors. I would absolutely not want a school that needs to be driven to if I could possibly help it, that said it’s partly due to the fact that where I am the traffic is diabolical at rush hour. But having friends within 5 minutes walk is extremely helpful. Chances are a lot has changed since the last ofsted, possibly even the head. Very likely you’ll be able to visit in the autumn if not already.

With clubs... Bigger schools may offer more. But it doesn't mean that the children can do them all. If they KS1 gymnastics club has 20 spaces and theres 60 children in both Yr1&2, there's less chance of a space. Whereas in a small school, everyone who wants to can play on the football team or netball team etc (at one of my kids schools, there were between 7-21 children per year... Meant my keen, tiny DD got a place in the football tournament despite having no skill and had a great day. Bigger schools it was only the ones who went to proper, out of school, football clubs for example.

You say you want a school within walking distance, is this because you don’t work? If you do work then a school that provides before and after care is worth its weight in gold. Honestly, I’d go for the last school - a school that’s been turned into an academy because it’s RI, or one that’s been RI for several years isn’t going to be that great - I know because I’ve taught in them for many years!

Walking distance is really useful, and often they love wallking home with friends in years 5 and 6, which is good preparation for secondary. We chose our second closest school, still walking distance, because I like it more.
I prefer single form entry for more of a community feel.

On paper option 1 sounds the best, but hopefully by the time you need to apply there will be in-person visits so you can get a feel for the schools. I'd probably avoid option 2 though, as 8 years is a long time for a school to be under 'requires improvement' without improving enough to get out of that category!

@Soontobe60 I’m a stay at home mum at the moment but planning to get some sort of part time job next year so may or may not need after schools clubs (I’m assuming probably will need them)

I’ve got a younger DS so ideally want to work 3 days a week so I have 2 at home with him and can then pick DS1 up from school on those days (or even all 5 if it’s a school hours job)