I must get my DC into a village school!

[Hmmmmnotsure]

My first little one is off to school next September so we are looking around local schools currently. We are considered all kinds of schools but It seems that everyone I know is really keen to get their child into a smaller village school. I really do mean everyone! None of them are in catchment for a village school either.

I am just wondering why village schools seems to be largely favoured? We are quite keen on our local school, which is a three form entry school, it's really making me second guess this. Do children in village schools have better outcomes (including socially)? Would love to hear your experiences and advice.

Usually on here it goes the other way - a 3 form school is far preferable to a mixed year classes school, or 1 form entry where there is no room for mixing. Usually better facilities at a larger school too, shared planning etc.

However it depends on the area and the schools themselves. Some people see it a bit like buying houses and assume a village location beats a town one..... (mistakenly imo!)

My DC go to school that is only one form per year. I wouldn't want them to go to a school that's any smaller. I don't understand what benefit there would be with a 8YO in the same class as a 5YO. Unless people think the staff ratios are better. But in my experience, less kids just means less staff.

I assume they mistakenly think they are going to get a wholesome, more old-school experience in village schools. What they may not realise is that bigger schools often have better facilities, more clubs and extra-curricular experiences. They can have sports teams, which village schools may not have the numbers for.

Mine started at a two form entry village school. It was ok, she liked it and they had a lot of space but it did mean they had to get a coach to go anywhere so fewer opportunities.

Work relocation mean she's now at a 1.5 form entry primary in a city and it's much better. Loads of things to visit on their doorstep on foot without having to pay for coach travel. Safer to get to school on foot as it's in a city rather than country roads without footpaths.

I currently work in a village school having been in a 4 form entry. There are positives and negatives and it depends on your child really. A village school like ours is one form entry so friendships can be limited to your class. If there are issues in the class there is nowhere to go ie mixing classes up. Some children struggling moving to secondary as it is so much bigger and they aren’t used to it. But everyone knows each other, the playgrounds aren’t as busy, it has a real community feel. Some children do better in smaller settings, some in larger. We do have less money, staff and facilities than larger schools but we have loads of green space which my larger school didn’t. Swings and roundabouts like anything really. Go with your instinct as you know what your child will be better suited towards.

No.
There is such a thing as a school that is too small. We relocated to East Sussex. Looked at 2 picture perfect village schools. Victorian buildings, feck all playground or other facilities. We sent DD to the 2 form primary in town. Who only want 4 other girls your age to choose from as friends?

Mine is in a village school and I'm finding it really lovely. There are only 17 in her class and the head greets every child by name at the gate in the morning. It's just got a lovely close vibe. They've done really well accommodating my dds special needs.

Not to say a bigger school wouldn't also be good but our village school is great for us.

i have a friend that raves about her tiny village school (she drives 20m each way to get them there). I believe there’s only 45 kids in the school, with a handful joining every year. 2 teachers.
she thinks it’s amazing as all the kids are like a big family and all work and play together (one large classroom) and in particular for her children who are (were) quite shy children, she has found it very nurturing.

but they don’t have any wrap around provision or activity clubs or hire specialist staff.

small schools can be great but round here at least the bigger schools are better resourced. Personally I wanted my kids to have a bigger “pool” of friends to choose from and more extra curricular activities on offer than you’ll ever get in a tiny school.

My dc went to a village school. Overall, I wouldn't choose it again. It was too small, two year groups in a class; there was zero SEN provision or understanding; not very diverse; little provision for sport as not enough kids to make up teams and no space on the playground to practice . On the other hand, it was small so it felt quite homely which is nice for the younger pupils, I think. On balance though I'd choose somewhere bigger.

DD has just started at our village school. We chose it because it's walking distance and I assumed she'd make friends who were all local - only to discover everyone else drives in from neighbouring towns.

I was amazed to think they'd do this instead of choosing their local schools.

Also when my dd went up to high school she was the only girl from her school to go there. It's easier to make the transition to high school if you come from a bigger primary.

Yep DS at a small village school of 90 (class size 30 but it is two years merged together). Very limiting socially. I assumed small= better experience but he was much happier at a previous larger primary (we moved hence the change). There is no guarantee that teaching will be better either.

I prefer a smaller school for the community feel and the smaller class sizes. I think parents should just do what seems best for their child.

All my dc went to the local village school with only 50 ish pupils. They loved it and blossomed. They had no issues transitioning to a large secondary/grammar school.

Because class sizes may be smaller?

I also have friends who raved about their village school - I think they like the community feel and social group. However they also talk about their kids being picked on/left out by the only other 4 girls in their year.... or lack of provision for dyslexia ... etc just wanting to believe their school is still special/superior.

I am governor at a small rural primary school and we have: 5 classes for 6 years, classes varying from 11 pupils to 34 (that class has 1.5 qualified teachers); an on-site pre-school whose children are integrated with the main school for various activities, so the transition to main school is easy; breakfast club; after-school club; every child learns an instrument and to read music from day one - the day starts with 15 minutes of music-making - ocarina for the little ones and recorder for the older; dozens of extra-curricular activities; specialist sports and music teachers; wonderful facilities; fields to run around in and a bit of woodland ...... I could go on. I wish I had been to such a school.

So do not think that village schools automatically have poorer provision.

The children thrive, no teachers shout - ever! - everyone is treated with respect and positive reward rather than punishment is the theme.

It works.

A lot of people on MN seem to be very anti-small schools, seemingly forgetting that it's often the only option in rural & semi-rural areas & yet, weirdly, all those thousands of children aren't damaged for life by the experience.
My DC both attend a tiny village primary; only two classes, well 3 including preschool.
There are pros & cons:
Pros - small community, every child knows each other; friendships span across the age ranges; we only need one coach for a whole school trip; rural location so access to playground, village green & school field; forest school & welly walks around the village; less children means everyone participates in sports, not just the sporty ones; same with plays/nativity; residentials start in Yr3; teachers & head know each child personally; pupils take part in sports with other local schools; specialist teachers are brought in to teacher when needed; teacher & TA ratio much better than larger schools
Cons - no wraparound care; no school hall, so lunch is held in classrooms; no sports hall, so PE takes place in playground/green/field or at local sports centre; no IT suite; small library; less extracurricular activities after school; cannot move class if major friendship problems occur.
Ultimately, I'd suggest visiting as many schools as possible & see which you think meets you child's needs.

I think too what you might want for a 4 year old (or 3 when you are looking) is very different to what you want at 9/10/11.

As well as what looks good on the outside not always being an amazing school for a child (Imagine only having 11 in your class! So maybe 5 other girls - and when they don't have similar interests or youre the only one that likes reading/minecraft/dinasaurs whatever and no one to share that with!

I prefer bigger

Specialist teachers
More staff
More resources
Bigger pool of children to play with. What happens if you don't quite fit in with the 10 you have available?
Wrap around care
Better SEN provision

It is all swings and roundabouts

village school was the worst thing for my son.

Yes both mine have loved their school library and the school librarian often suggests books they might like!

And as well as wrap around provision there's an amazing selection of clubs!

My DC went to the school in the village we lived in at the time. They did have a really nice primary school experience, there was two classes per year. They also attended lots of after school and when they were older weekend activities in the village.

I think it's like everything and different schools suit different kids of different ages. Mine are in our catchment school, which is a small primary with combined classes of 2 year groups. They are both shy and anxious with large groups where they don't know people. For both a school where they do know everyone has been really helped bring them out their shells. It's not just how busy it is at drop off etc, it means audiences at school plays etc are smaller and a larger percentage of adult faces are familiar - DC1 had a large part last year and I can't imagine him managing that in a bigger school. It also seems to foster community spirit in parents so parent volunteers run quite a few extra events in school that just don't happen at the larger schools near us as they don't get the volunteers.

For other children, a larger school may well be better - e.g. larger budgets means SEN support is likely to at least be better resourced.

Mine goes to one. Two years per class. Discovering disadvantages in that if they have a less pleasant teaxher they are stuck with them for two years. Plus as the nearest village to the larger town they have started to attract children who didnt get on at the main school there. This isnt always a great result for the class dynamic.
It started out as a lovely sunny school and is now getting a bit rough. Seeing how this year goes then may consider moving dd.