Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Which of these schools would you choose?

45 replies

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 22:48

Option A:
Local state primary.
15 min drive.
Small school, 60 ish pupils
R-yr6 split between 3 classrooms, approx 20 children in each class.
Basic facilities only. Packed lunches only. Breakfast and after school wrap around care, no clubs.

Option B
Independent
40 mins drive
180 ish pupils
2 x 15 student classes per year.
Large sport facilities, good on site catering with hot meals, variety of different after school clubs and activities

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hellocatshome · 14/02/2022 22:49

Are they literally the only two options because neither would really appeal to me.

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 22:51

We are very rural, so 15 min drive is actually the closest school with space (mid year transfer).

Essentially if the independent was down the road, it would be a definite, but 40 min drive to school seems like madness to me. DC could use that time every day to do after school interests, or just have more time at home.

But then I worry the local state is so small that there are lots of potential pitfalls like friendship group fallouts etc, and 3 year groups in one classroom isn't ideal.

OP posts:

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 22:52

@Hellocatshome

Are they literally the only two options because neither would really appeal to me.

The other state options are all very similar, so there are others slightly further away but they are all of that size and character.

OP posts:

Ionlydomassiveones · 14/02/2022 22:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 22:55

I am visiting both later this week @Ionlydomassiveones

OP posts:

APurpleSquirrel · 14/02/2022 22:56

School A sounds similar to my DD school - really great school, very happy kids.
Is the cost of the independent not a consideration also?

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 23:00

Cost is an issue, but DC's current school is independent so we were expecting the expense if that makes sense.

@APurpleSquirrel at your DD's school do they have several year groups with one teacher in a classroom? I just can't fathom how a teacher can manage that, it sounds impossible also if its very small, what happens if there is a peer group issue, I worry a bit about friendship groups and falling outs if its so small

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 14/02/2022 23:04

If your DC is currently at an independent school I would worry they wouldn't adapt well to the tiny state school with limited facilities and a small number of peers.

Ionlydomassiveones · 14/02/2022 23:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

beechie12 · 14/02/2022 23:08

I would pick the closer one. 1h 20mins in car everyday is too much for me.

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 23:11

@Hellocatshome

If your DC is currently at an independent school I would worry they wouldn't adapt well to the tiny state school with limited facilities and a small number of peers.

Hmm, yes this has occurred to me to...I think its actually the peer numbers that is scaring me most, because I could always do lots more sport etc in the evening to counteract the lack of sporting activities in the school, but i'm not sure if I could counteract the small number of peers, or for that matter how much of an issue that might be. On the other hand a 40 min drive twice a day isn't great and all his friends from school would be miles away from him......

OP posts:

Taciturn · 14/02/2022 23:20

Independent schools don't always have better teachers - we learned this through a poor experience. This is very important at primary school IMO.

Cattitudes · 14/02/2022 23:27

Does the independent have the option for the occasional overnight? If he is old enough and up for that then he could do that once or twice a week. The local primary sounds fine for a young child, not so good for a 9/10yr old. What are the secondary options like?

APurpleSquirrel · 14/02/2022 23:32

DD school has two classes - one has YrR-Yr2, & the other Yr3-Yr6. They both have less than 30 pupils in each class, there is one teacher & 2 TAs in each class, so the teacher/Ta to pupil ratio is effectively 1/8.
Friendship-wise we've found the children make friends across the year groups/classes, so effectively have more potential friends than a standard 30-intake class. At playtime, they often play together. Due to the size they do whole school assemblies & can do whole school trips.
Work-wise, the children are obviously taught according to their year group but work can be adjusted if they need challenging & work with the older years, & vice versa if they need more support they can work with the younger years. Each class has a core topic for the term & work is aimed at the relevant level for the year groups.
In terms of sports - they don't have lots of clubs but the reduced numbers means everyone gets a chance at playing, no favouritism or the best sporty people, as they need the numbers & then they play against other local small schools.
When you visit make sure to ask & raise your concerns. I had them too when I looked around the school, but the head was very open & explained that whilst small schools do have limitations (no big libraries, IT suites, etc) they do offer a great community, opportunities to do things other schools can't (whole school trips & activities) & a really caring, nurturing environment.

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 23:37

No options for overnights
DS is 8 in a couple of months.
The indep goes through to 16 (but not a levels)
Local states feed into a secondary with a lot of problems and we wouldn't consider unless there was massive improvement (it may be forced to join forces with another better run school from what i understand). As it is we would send DC to the indep at 11.

OP posts:

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 23:39

@APurpleSquirrel

DD school has two classes - one has YrR-Yr2, & the other Yr3-Yr6. They both have less than 30 pupils in each class, there is one teacher & 2 TAs in each class, so the teacher/Ta to pupil ratio is effectively 1/8. Friendship-wise we've found the children make friends across the year groups/classes, so effectively have more potential friends than a standard 30-intake class. At playtime, they often play together. Due to the size they do whole school assemblies & can do whole school trips. Work-wise, the children are obviously taught according to their year group but work can be adjusted if they need challenging & work with the older years, & vice versa if they need more support they can work with the younger years. Each class has a core topic for the term & work is aimed at the relevant level for the year groups. In terms of sports - they don't have lots of clubs but the reduced numbers means everyone gets a chance at playing, no favouritism or the best sporty people, as they need the numbers & then they play against other local small schools. When you visit make sure to ask & raise your concerns. I had them too when I looked around the school, but the head was very open & explained that whilst small schools do have limitations (no big libraries, IT suites, etc) they do offer a great community, opportunities to do things other schools can't (whole school trips & activities) & a really caring, nurturing environment.

This is really positive to read, thanks. I hadn't even thought about different year groups playing together, that would give more scope than I had imagined. I will raise my concerns on the visit and see if they can reassure me.

OP posts:

Original poster

RelentlessForwardProgress · 14/02/2022 23:44

@Taciturn

Independent schools don't always have better teachers - we learned this through a poor experience. This is very important at primary school IMO.

Absolutely agree with this. I'm worried it will be difficult to asses on a quick tour of either school. I have read the ofsted reports but the state schools last report is 2014 and it looks like 2 of the 3 teachers have changed since then.

OP posts:

EdithWeston · 15/02/2022 07:22

I think that the other school is too small

I wouid be doing 'state til 8' in there circs, because I'd resent the drive as well. But by the time is KS2, I think they benefit from being in larger groups. The commented might be 'dead' time (but they can do their homework during it?) but they'll be doing things like team sports during the school day (barely possible in the small school), so it'll even out

EdithWeston · 15/02/2022 07:25

For example on sports btw: 60 pupils in the school, about half girls, about half in KS2, not enough for 2 netball teams to play against each other.

But as the whole school is split into 3 groups, and they do sport together, that's 20 pupils, so it'll be 5-a-side football and rounders.

If you want your DC to play more sport then you need clubs (more driving?) or the bigger school

MaggieMooh · 15/02/2022 07:31

I wouldn’t choose a school with mixed ages in the same classroom. The teacher ends up teaching to the lowest common denominator (the youngest kids) and the older kids aren’t sufficiently challenged.

TeenPlusCat · 15/02/2022 07:32

I think that state school is too small for me.
40 mins drive each way is OK for your DS, but 1hr20mins twice a day (unless you are dropping and collecting en route to work) is a lot.

I currently have a 1hr round trip to drop my DD at college, but it is only 4 times a week, and DH does the pick up. Plus it is for 2 years only max.

For the DS, a 40min journey each way is enough for a nice chat, and you can do spellings, times tables / maths facts etc on the way if you want to make use of the trapped time.

StooriMidori · 15/02/2022 07:37

I stopped reading at '40 min drive'. That's a hard no from me.

APurpleSquirrel · 15/02/2022 07:46

@MaggieMooh

That's not my experience with DD school. The teacher sets work relevant for each year group/ability & she & the TAs then monitor different groups as the children work. My DD is top of the class, reading/comprehension above actual age, & is often given work equivalent to Yr3 to stretch her. Prior to this she would often be sat with the older children & do the same work as them.

roastedsaltedpeanut · 15/02/2022 07:59

I was in a similar situation and I chose the indie. I was concerned that if I didn’t they may not be able to pass common entrance and I will be stuck with the local senior school and sixth form which I wasn’t too keen on (which has improved significantly in recent years so it is becoming a viable option if the indie doesn’t work out) Over the years when I was so tired I wondered if I have made the right choice. Leaving the house early everyday and so much driving can be so tiring. All the clubs take up so much time I am always driving home in peak traffic for miles and miles back to the countryside. Winter months are the worst. Pitch black when I leave and pitch black when I get back.

Having said that the kids are having a good time so for me all the efforts are worth it.

Taswama · 15/02/2022 08:14

Is the 40 mins according to google or have you actually driven it? I would assume it could easily be an hour each way if there is bad weather, traffic jam, roadworks.

Is there a school bus option for the local primary? Maybe not immediately but in a year or two.

Is DS an only. Who will be doing the driving?

Flip

1 2