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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Catchment school or the school I work at

72 replies

TeddyBeans · 07/11/2021 08:09

Sorry this is going to be a long one... Help! I'm having a huge dilemma about DS' school place for September 2022. We live 10ish miles away from the school I work at so would mean train trips with me for DS every day. Our catchment school is on the next road from where we live.

I'm really struggling with what would be best for DS. We've visited both schools and he loved them equally. If we were to send him to the catchment school, my partner would have to drop him in the morning as I'd already have left for work and I'd have to drop my hours to part time to get back to pick DS up as there's no after school club. But he would live in the same area as all his friends which would make playdates easier and he'd probably go to the same high school as his friends in years to come.

If he came to my school, it would mean childcare wasn't an issue, my partner could go to work earlier and get to spend more of the evenings with us (he works for his family company so a good level of flexibility), I could go back to full time hours and I trust the staff to ensure he really excels in his learning.

The issue with my school is if I decided I wanted to move on I would have to change DS' school which is something I'd like to avoid if at all possible. His friends would be 10+ miles away which would make playdates difficult and he'd probably not go to high school with them.

I really don't know what to do for the best. I want to make the best choice for DS but I have no idea what that is. There's also no guarantee he'd get in at my school as children of staff are only 7th on the priority list

OP posts:

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fitzbilly · 07/11/2021 08:15

I'd say local school for all the reasons you have mentioned, then apply to that school whenever a job comes up so you can work there too.

If there's no after school club you could look for local childminders.

RancidOldHag · 07/11/2021 08:16

Stating the obvious, but does your school have 'children of qualifying staff' written in to the entrance criteria? If it doesn't, you may not secure a place from a distance as great at 10 miles.

And generally, unless you know your are settled in your workplace for the foreseeable (ideally the next 7 years) then you will be stuck with a 10 mile journey twice a day. It really would not be fair to uproot your DC for the sake of an entirely foreseeable reason (yes, DC move withiutndifficuotynwhen life throws stuff at us. But I don't think it's a good idea to set things up to make it more likely)

TL:DR - stay local

languagelover96 · 07/11/2021 08:23

This is up to you. I would probably visit the schools in question on a tour then make a decision. This is why you need to research all possible schools within your area carefully and make notes. Pay attention to your gut feeling here op as well. If you can, observe a lesson and see pupil artwork. Find out about the amount of homework and after school clubs and trips too. Stay local.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 07/11/2021 08:25

I have a similar situation - apart from my children can stay for after school club every night until 4.30, so I’m able to work full time in another school (10 miles away) and then pick them up afterwards. My DH takes the children to school, like yours would.

I think there is a lot of be said for sticking with catchment school if it’s good. And, as you say, you may not even get a place at your school. It’s the pickups you need to solve…

how flexible is DH? Presumably not enough to do pickup every day, but if it’s a family business can he do some pickups?
can you ask the school about the possibility of starting after school clubs?
can you look into childminders?
last resort to go part time, but I would try the other options first.

Good luck with your decisions - I know it’s not easy!

ParmigianoReggiano · 07/11/2021 08:30

This is a tricky one. I would normally say local, except for the bit about you having to go part time, which is a massive difference between the two options. Is that easy for you to do without affecting your job too much? Are there childminders available for after school care?

Tbh it sounds like you won't have the choice. If staff children are only 7th priority, surely he's unlikely to get a place anyway? Or is it usually under subscribed?

JamesWilbysAbs · 07/11/2021 08:30

Definitely local school. Your child will be much more connected to their community by going to school locally and having friends locally. Your place of work school is just a convenience for you- not in your child's best interest. Even if you stay at the school for 7 years, what happens if you have to attend meetings straight after school, or go on a school trip, or have an appointment with a parent? Is your child just going to sit in your classroom and wait for you to finish working every single day? And where would they go before school? I assume you don't just pitch up at your classroom the minute school starts? (What about any possible future children?)
It may seem a long long way away but think ahead to any consequences for secondary applications- do these 2 primaries feed into particular secondaries which might influence your decision?

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 07/11/2021 08:35

Catchment school and there must be some form of wrap around childcare in the town.

Would your head even agree part time to be mornings so you can get back? Rather than dictate to you what works for them? I had my part-time contracted hours changed three times in the 6 years i was part time.

PinkWaferBiscuit · 07/11/2021 08:35

Stating the obvious, but does your school have 'children of qualifying staff' written in to the entrance criteria? If it doesn't, you may not secure a place from a distance as great at 10 miles.

I came on to ask similar, around here he wouldn't stand a chance at getting into a primary school so far away.

Although honestly even if they did have a policy of admitting staff members children I'd still choose the local school. Being close to friends and being a part of the local school community where your child could walk to school and do local clubs with their classmates would be important to me.

I'd also personally really dislike having my own children in my school, being Mrs X's child is not a label I'd want for them unless it was completely unavoidable.

DelphiniumBlue · 07/11/2021 08:35

What is your role in the school? Because going part time usually means doing fewer days or mornings only, it doesn't mean leaving at 2:45 every day. If you are admin it might be doable but not if you are a class teacher.
Have you had a discussion with your manager to find out what the part time options might be?
I think that's something you need to do before making any decisions.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 07/11/2021 08:36

Honestly I'd send him to the local school.

Who knows what is in the future with your job etc but you are essentially tying yourself and DS to that school.

Local friends and being part of a community are invaluable.
Parties, play dates, friends knocking on door to ride bikes and hang out, sports teams and so much more.

The school 10 miles away will mean you drive to every kids party, playdate and activity for at least a decade. No lift shares. Ever.
And some kids will live on the other side of the school so even further away.

I was you.

We ended up moving DD. As she got older she was missing out on so many spontaneous meet ups etc that it had a very negative impact and we did move schools eventually.

lentilsforever · 07/11/2021 08:36

For me it would be about one thing only

What school is right for my child
For my son it would be the most academic
For my daughter the best pastoral care

desperate4spring · 07/11/2021 08:37

Local school + childminder. Without a doubt.

GuyFawkesAppreciationClub · 07/11/2021 08:37

I was going to suggest the local school abs looking for a CM who does pick ups and drop offs as well.

PinkWaferBiscuit · 07/11/2021 08:39

Ignore the first part of that. Staff children being 7th in priority means he really won't stand any chance of getting a place at your school unless it's massively under subscribed. Taking a child from that category is not going to happen so it's not worth worrying about which to choose as there isn't really a choice.

LynetteScavo · 07/11/2021 08:39

Definitely the local school.

He's then more likely to go to high school with friends. And many more reasons already mentioned.

Find a childminder, or part time nanny and let the school know you'd use wrap around care if it was available

VashtaNerada · 07/11/2021 08:43

As a contrast, I enrolled DC at the school where I teach and we get the train together every day. It worked out really well and we still manage play dates. It’s lovely to spend that extra bit of time together.

unknownstory · 07/11/2021 08:43

If you put him first it's the local school without any doubt. Ask other working parents what they do re pick up. Really not fair on him to be ten miles from all local children.

Bakingwithmyboys · 07/11/2021 08:44

Sending my boys to the local school was the best decision, especially for DS1. He flourished starting school and it really built up his confidence and independence in a way it wouldn't have done had he gone to my school. He is able to see school friends at the local park on weekends and other local events. Due to covid we haven't entered the world of play dates after school yet but I'm sure that will come.

I would look into a childminder after school. As you say, your not sure if you want to stay for the next 7 years.

Do you really want to know everything that your child does? Do you really want them to be known as Miss X's son rather than have their own identity? Will all members of staff treat him equally and fairly? (I've known some teachers go so far down the line of "no special treatment just because mum is a teacher" that the child was miserable).

At the end of the day it is a personal choice. I know some teachers who have been at the same school as their children and there were no problems, it was something I knew I never wanted.

ohdeariforgot · 07/11/2021 08:51

Remember that when it comes to secondary applications, being a yr 6 Pupil at a linked school may put you in a higher admissions category.

Regardless of this, I agree local school is bes. Shorter days, close friends, greater independence and not being teacher's child

NoSquirrels · 07/11/2021 08:53

Sounds like catchment and looking for a childminder is the best thing. Is there no breakfast club either at your local school?

If you were set on your own school, if you currently commute by train, would having a car be easier (assuming you drive)? Then you’re not reliant on train times which must limit your options on when you have to leave/arrive?

Strawbales · 07/11/2021 08:53

Local school.

I think it’s really bad for children to attend the school their parent(s) work at in any case, but living ten miles away from his friends would be awful and very isolating.

brightwhite · 07/11/2021 08:54

Stay local.

Anything can happen with a job.

EdgeOfTheSky · 07/11/2021 08:56

Local school if you can make it work for you work and money wise.

Childminder for after school?

The advantage of local friends (for your Ds and school gate friends for you and your DH) and the possibility of either being trapped in your current job or having to move him would swing it for me. What if you couldn’t even get him an in-year place in a decent school?

GuyFawkesAppreciationClub · 07/11/2021 08:57

Remember that when it comes to secondary applications, being a yr 6 Pupil at a linked school may put you in a higher admissions category

Think this depends on the school. Our local High School has given priority to children in the feeder schools for many years but have now changed priority to catchment children. It's caught a lot of people out who thought they'd have a guaranteed place, lots of families have moved.

Flowersintheattic2021 · 07/11/2021 08:58

Catchment. It's a nightmare otherwise when they Start y7 (My y7 dd knew no one) as they don't know anyone. I recently moved my dd 7 to our local school and she now sees her friends etc when we go to the park. You may get a new job or get sacked long term you never know how's things pan out

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