Help!

[paperpusher]

We are currently in the process of applying for a reception place for our daughter for the 2022 intake.

We've been to have a look around our local ones - catchment one and the local Catholic school. DD is Baptised.

DH and I liked both schools, but can't choose between the Catholic school or the catchment one.

Our DD is very confident - the catchment one is a 60 entry, the Catholic one is 30 entry. I am not sure whether DD would be better in a larger school or whether a smaller school would be better for her?

For those with children with confident personalities, any pointers?

I felt my DD would suit a larger school and, like you, we had to choose between a 30 and a 60 entry.

However, we chose the local school in the end (the 30 entry) because of convenience (4 minute walk instead of driving to fit in with commute to work with tricky parking etc.), and I'm very glad we did. DD has walked to and from school on her own since the start of Y5, has local friends, and life is so much less hassle for us than it would have been at the other school. We have seen those benefits every day for several years.

I still think DD would have suited a bigger school better, but the size of the school is only one of many considerations. You obviously have the faith aspect to consider as well, but other factors are commute, facilities, results, chances of getting in, feeder secondaries...

60 in a year group is really not a big school. I'd go for the slightly bigger year group (all other things being the same) any time. If you're in a single form entry school and you don't "gel" with any of the others, or there is an imbalanced girl/boy mix or you have a horrible falling out with your friends in Year 3 ... then you've got nowhere to go. Much easier to find like minded people with a wider friendship pool.

I also agree with PP, that going to the local school has many advantages.

60 is better. A larger school is more financially stable and can usually afford to offer more by way of co-curricular experiences.

Also, unless there is a major point of difference, closer / local would always be my preference. Commuting is miserable!

@RedskyThisNight

60 in a year group is really not a big school. I'd go for the slightly bigger year group (all other things being the same) any time. If you're in a single form entry school and you don't "gel" with any of the others, or there is an imbalanced girl/boy mix or you have a horrible falling out with your friends in Year 3 ... then you've got nowhere to go. Much easier to find like minded people with a wider friendship pool.

I also agree with PP, that going to the local school has many advantages.

This, especially past the first couple of years.

Thanks everyone. The catchment school is a 5 minute walk, the Catholic one a 10 minute walk.