Should I swap schools?

[Schooldil3ma]

Im in such a dilemma, per user name.

Dd is finishing reception at our local school. It's very small, single form intake and whilst it's lovely there are only a handful of girls, they don't do any after school or lunch clubs, the few girls squabble a lot....its not quite the idilyc school I thought it would be.

The local comprehensive is absolutely terrible, always in and out of special measures etc.

We are Catholic, but I didn't send her to the local Catholic primary due to logistics. I've now realised this was a huge mistake as she won't get in to the Catholic High school without going to a feeder. I'm now possibly able to change my working hours so I can get her there. I also have a DS who would start school nursery in September 2023. The Catholic school doesn't have a nursery, but our local school does.

Do I move her now before she's too settled, or let her brother do the school nursery locally then move them both, or keep her where she is and worry about high school in a few years time?

It feels like such a huge decision, and I really need to get it right. Any advice / experience much appreciated.

Does the other primary have space? Even though the comp could get better and the catholic school could get worse, I'm assuming that going to the catholic primary doesn't prevent an application to the comp?

I would move her because of the social issues. If the Catholic school is full you might have a long wait but hopefully it won't be too many months/years.

If she is not happy move her. We did it this year at February half term as she was miserable at the reception class she was in and the school was not at all like we were lead to believe (covid meant no open days or tours of the school). It is the best thing we have done. She has thrived at the new school, she is happy, has so many friends, is catching up to her classmates (we didn't realise how behind she was at the old school as they didn't start phonics till the middle of November, where the new school started them I'm September so she was 8 weeks behind the class) and her whole demeanour has changed. We also realised just how down and depressed she was as it was a slow decline.

Best thing you can do is move her.

It doesn’t sound as though many of the things you are worried about are likely to change much in the future, so maybe moving your dd asap is the answer. First of all you need to find out if the RC school will have places in Y1. Then get yourself on the waiting list. Check the sibling criteria , does it mention siblings, catchment, out of catchment etc If you are at a distance from the school then even a sibling qualifying on baptismal and church affiliation might not be offered a reception place which could be a huge problem in the future . Lots of children go to nursery in one school and change to reception for another so I wouldn’t worry about changing him at that point, but of course you do need to think about getting two children to different schools during his nursery year.

Move her now. The sooner the better!
It is ok to send your son to the local nursery and put him into the same Catholic school as his sister later. Think of all the kids at private preschools, there will be kids from all over and they make friends when they get to Reception.

Sounds like a very sensible decision. Good luck!

Usually for catholic schools it matters more that they are baptised and regularly attend mass than go to the feeder school. If you go on their website you should be able to find their admissions criteria.

Are there places at the Catholic school? Is it a given your dc would get in? Tbh it might be easier to apply when ds is due to go into Reception as by then your dd will be beyond Infant Class size restrictions.

Thank you all so much.

I think the local comprehensive will always be awful, the catchment area is wide and covers a huge housing estate with really ingrained social issues. I feel horribly snobby saying that, but its true. The Catholic High will probably always be good, it's the highest rated school locally and has been for living memory.

@MrsPartridgeKleio the high school is hugely oversubscribed, 5 applications for each place, and their admissions criteria after looked after children etc is feeder schools, the other Catholics etc.

@viques we'd hopefully get them both is as its our local Catholoc school....although it's still miles away!

@ItsSnowJokes she isn't unhappy, that's my rub. She's perfectly contented, so I'm torn. However I think she may "outgrow" the school before year 6, IYSWIM.

I'd put her in the waiting list and see what happens. By the time you get a space you'll have more data to work with so you'll know whether to jump ship or not.

I would move her now before she gets even more settled

With that few girls I'd certainly move her by the end of infants. A relative of mine got sent to a similar 'lovely' small school. Five girls to start, 3 by the end of year 3, her by Easter of year 4. She did all of ur 5 and 6 as the only girl in her year and now has endless problems in secondary as she has never had any 'practice' with making friends or dealing with friendship issues. It ruined her primary experience and is well on the way to ruining secondary. If you can get yours into the bigger primary, do!

I hadn't even considered the Catholic school may be full, crikey I really am new to all this. Well it is full, so I've added her to the waiting list, as @PeekAtYou says I'll know a bit more by the time / if a place comes up. The admissions lady seems to think we've got zero chance for year 1.

@MillicentMargaretAmanda I had this rose tinted view of a tiny village school, and in some ways it is delightful, but its definitely not going to equip her for high school. Plus it's very well off / white, which is not reflective of the city at all.