Choosing between 2 school

[Jummybean]

We are in a position where we have 2 school offers, both great schools but could t be more different. Please help me choose.

School 1 is a small village school 17 a year with mixed year groups (which i think i like), not great facilities but the best academically. It's a short drive each morning on my way to work, small feel, lovely atmosphere but it's a 2 tier system ( I come from 3 tier and loved it), has the best follow on school. She has some attention span difficulties so I think the smaller school could be better for her. She knows one person from nursery going.

School 2 is literally next door to us, but it is a bigger school (60 intake) the school is lovely, great facilities, no one has a bad word to say, but I do have concerns about her being in the same environment as badly behaved children as she has a tenancy to follow and join in cause it looks like fun.

I don't have a gut feeling on either but my biggest concern is that because school 1 is oversubscribed, she won't get another chance to go. If we don't like school 1, we can always go to school 2. If we choose school 2 and don't like it, we won't have the option of school 1 again.

Its also worth noting she is an August baby so being the youngest in the year in itself is going to be a challenge.

Any thoughts??? Help please

Can you guarantee there will be no "badly behaved children" in the small school ?
Go for the one easiest to get to.
So the one "literally next door".

Unusual to have two offers, is one from waiting list? Larger sounds better for opportunities longer term and convenience.

Mixed year groups are fine when they're younger but not as they get older imo. A friends DD is currently year 6 and because her class is mixed with year 5s my friend is finding her DD hasn't had that great an education this year because the teacher is tending to focus on the younger children.
Can you speak to parents who gave children who go there to get feedback?

There are badly behaved children at every school, yours might even be badly behaved on occasion!

Lovely school next door to your house with great facilities that no one has a bad word to say about?! That would be an absolute no brainer for me and I wouldn’t even look anywhere else.

Absolutely school number 2. It has great facilities, more friendship options and is right on your doorstep which will be helpful as your child grows up.

A small year group, especially mixed ages isn't something I would choose for a child.

Definitely school number 2. A small school might sound nice at 4, but by 11 it could be small and stifling. Also, if there are friendship issues in a small school it is less likely to be sorted. A bigger school you have movement to the opposite class. The smaller school may look like it is performing better academically, but this is based on a very small cohort.

I wasn't sure about a 60 intake for DD who is in reception this year. In hindsight it is the best decision we made. Much more on offer: enrichment opportunities, wraparound, more clubs, greater pool for friendships.

Mm has a big dislike of small schools we moved from a 2 class intake to a mixed class. The 2 class school was outstanding the mixed was good. The mixed good school was far better than The outstanding
.My dyslexic.child got support the outstanding didn't provide. My child who was very able was pushed all the was through including year 6. Because the teacher was already used to covering a wide range of skills she could cope with this still.

The small schoolmgor together with other small schools widening the friendship groups.

It's not all.bad

Having said that I would go for the Closer school as having friends close by is important and you don't seem to show anything else that makes one stand out.