Which infant/primary school to choose? Please help.

[Itwillallbeok]

Please help! I've become a bit obsessive about choosing a school for my little one who will be starting next September. I love two schools, both we have a good chance of getting into and both have very different pros and cons. It feels like a real crossroads moment.

School 1 is our catchment school. The infant school is graded outstanding and their curriculum seems really fun and creative. Great support for children who need extra help should DC need it. It is a 3 form entry school, with 90 pupils in each year. The outdoor space and play resources are amazing. More of DCs nursery friends will likely be going to this school. The infant school really feels amazing but I'm not as excited about the Junior school and obviously she would be there for longer than at the infants. The juniors is good but I don't get the same feeling about it, behaviour isn't as good and there are lots of classes with job shares, which I'm not the biggest fan of (having done it myself). I am also worried my little one will get lost in such a big school.

School 2 is a village school. 1 class of 30 for every year group. Graded outstanding and has a lovely feeling about the place throughout - it's a primary school so very consistent from YR to Y6. The behaviour in the school is lovely and it has a very nurturing vibe. The resources and outdoor equipment are not as impressive - the YR outdoor space is actually quite small but they achieve really good outcomes at the school and there are lots of opportunities for extra curricular activities. The only thing is it's a VERY religious, although inclusive, CofE school and we are not a religious family.

I feel like the schools give two very different experiences. School 1 - big school, very creative and possibly the better choice in terms of the social aspect! School 2 - small school, very nurturing and academic. I don't have a gut feeling about where little one will do better, I just see two totally different possible futures for them and I don't know what is best!

Will I regret school 1 when we get to the junior end? Or am I overthinking this. Which would you go for? Little one is confident at nursery and enjoys learning so far.

It is totally iniquitous that state schools are allowed to be allied to a religion and receive government funding. A total disgrace. In what way is it VERY religious? How does this manifest itself in the daily life of the school to the extent that you describe it in those terms?

Just that the religious element was very evident in their displays throughout the school and on their website. We had looked at another CofE school which felt a bit more subtle. They achieved 'excellent' in their SIAMS inspection and seem to be a bit of a role model school in our county for RE. However, the children who showed us round said they were not religious but still felt included.

To add they have collective worship everyday and prayers at lunch and end of the day. Thank you, you've prompted me to think about this part more closely.

You are viewing this through the lens of having a 3/4 year old. So the bigger school seems a bit scary and the small school seems nurturing.

Firstly, I'd say that closest school has so many intangible benefits, I always think there should be a really good reason not to go there.
Secondly, in nearly 4 years' time the junior school will likely have changed and, even if it hasn't, your DC will be 7 and not 3/4 and your priorities will have shifted. Plus 7 is a natural break point and if you really still hate the junior school you can look to move your DC then.
Thirdly, 30 in a year might look good at age 3/4 but it might be very claustrophobic by age 8/9. Bigger school means more choices of friends and somewhere to hide when you fall out with your infants school friendship group in Year 4. And bigger school means more money and more resources, which is even more of a consideration with school budgets being cut.

@sheepdogdelight thank you for this perspective! I think I'm overthinking it a bit too much - I've spoken to so many people who wish they were in our catchment to get into school 1 - in some ways it would be silly not to take the opportunity on our doorstep. This has helped so much, thank you for taking the time to reply.

The other question I have is, is it safe to just put down 2 schools as opposed to three since one is the catchment school? We haven't found another school we'd want to put down.

I ordinarily don't like 3 form entry - our experience was that there were loads more facilities but loads more kids to share it with, as an example my son started at a 3 form entry where he did forest school once a half term and the adventure playground once a half term. Now he's moved to a two form entry with smaller class sizes he does forest school once a week plus optional every lunch time - so better facilities don't always translate into a better experience. But from your post you seem to have a good feel about the infants, the junior side you may look differently once you have an older child (similarly there will likely be lots of staff changes before your child actually gets there).

The overly religious aspect would really put me off the other school - I went to Catholic school and it didnt bother me at the time but it is only when I look back in retrospect as an adult that I am baffled by how much brainwashing and control goes on.

I'd likely go for the 3 form entry in this case, close by, local friends.

Good luck with your decision!

@ZebraKid71 thanks so much for your reply! Very good point with regards to more children to share the opportunities amongst but also I agree - I think it's starting to dawn on me that the religious aspect will not work for our family. I went to a Catholic school too and I have been a life-long pushover - it was always about putting others needs before your own - I suppose there needs to be a balance. Thank you X

Lots of people will tell you that you must use up all your preferences in case you don't get one of them so you're not left with random unpopular school (if you don't get into one of your choices you will just be allocated whatever is left), but I think if (based on the admissions criteria) you are a shoe in for the catchment school (unless a family of 30 same age siblings move in next door or something equally unlikely) it's not actually a problem. We only put one choice down for our DD (siblings in catchment had priority and we knew there was only about 5 siblings living closer than us !). If you're feeling nervous you could just put down localish school you don't really like on the basis that it would be better than non-local school you don't really like! If you put it in last place, it's only a back stop option anyway.

Easy choice for me - I would never ever send my child to a religious school. Other school sounds much better

Oh an our local one form entry end up without about 15 in each year further up the school which isn’t great.

I sent my ds to a one form entry thinking that the smaller, nurturing, etc size would be best. However now looking back it can be limiting on friends with the group of 30 stuck together every year. Ds1 and ds2 never really found a group of friends and it wasn't until they went to the secondary school with a much wider 'pool of children' did they find a group of friends.

However that would not be a 'deal breaker'.

My biggest plus was that the children seemed happy, engaged in a generally calm environment.

Brill - thank you! I was wondering whether to book a proper tour of the juniors but so much can change in 4 years.

Can you walk to school 1? Meeting friends on the way and being in the local area for play dates is a huge benefit for us.

I'd rather three form entry than one, the teachers should be less stretched on planning and resourcing, so hopefully a higher quality.

I'm religious but wouldn't have a strong preference for CoE or not.

I would have a good look at the schools' relationships & sex Ed policy, and behaviour policy. And SEN if that could be a factor.

My son is at a very small CoE school much like you described.

For us (SE London) we felt the small single form entry aspect was the most import. Our son was a selective mute for a long time and we felt the big school would be too overwhelming for him. We were right. He has flourished and overcome his SM at the tiny school.

I am not religious though DH's family are and the kids are baptised CoE.

It is religious. There are prayers at lunch time and prayers at the end of school. Daily collective worship and they do learn bible stories.

I've actually found it ok. They aren't teaching anything I massively disagree with (eg being gay is wrong) and the focus is very positive on things like finding joy and peace etc. we've been to assembly and the religious aspect is 1 hymn, a prayer and lighting a candle. Nothing totally horrific.

The prayers they say in the day are nice too. The lunchtime one thanks for the food and for the hands that made it (which I like the acknowledgment of the lunch time staff and being grateful) the end of day one is asking for rest. Again all very positive.

Although not religious, we do celebrate Xmas and Easter so it's nice they learn about the reasons behind those celebrations

Biggest school, especially if your child is shy or quiet. They will have much more chance of making friends/finding their tribe. Also it’s easier to escape disruptive elements.

@Twizbe Although not religious, we do celebrate Xmas and Easter so it's nice they learn about the reasons behind those celebrations

interesting that a religious school would talk about pagan history!

Although not religious, we do celebrate Xmas and Easter so it's nice they learn about the reasons behind those celebrations

You do realise all schools will talk about the reasons behind Xmas and Easter (and most likely Eid, Diwali etc) ?? A degree of religious teaching is mandatory in all state schools.

Thanks for all your perspectives. We would be able to walk to the catchment school but it's a 25/30 min walk if that makes any difference.

30 mins is a LONG walk each way twice a day. Especially when you’re late. Which you will be with a primary age child!!

Yes and his school does also learn about other religions. They didn't do anything for Halloween I noticed.

Why wouldn't they talk about pagan history? I'm sure you realise what I was talking about.

@Showmethecardis 5 min drive it is then! 😂