Which school would you choose?

AmaListening · 2023-11-07T20:14:03+00:00

How important is the journey to/from school? The school we REALLY love is further away. It would be quite the daily commute. The school we like less is nearer, but still supposedly a good school. Does location always trump any other factors, because of how convenient drop offs and picks ups are on a daily basis? Or would you travel further for an excellent school? Would love to hear experiences / regrets either way!

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/11/2023 20:16

Yes imo distance is a huge factor- having a school you can walk to is a life saver. Being dictated to by traffic is no fun and no way to start anyone’s day, yours or a child’s. Also a benefit with all friends being local, I love the fact my eldest sees her school friends in the park, the supermarket, etc. play dates are local- it makes life easier. I wouldn’t underestimate its a journey you do twice a day 5 times a wk.

crisplist · 07/11/2023 20:35

How much further away?
We chose a school 30 mins walk away, over the one just round the corner. Never regretted. Still walk to school, and had lots of local friends. The distance was not a problem at all after the first winter.
But I would never choose a school 30 mins drive away.

queenofthewild · 07/11/2023 20:37

If you have 1 child you'll be doing the school run for 7 years. More than 1 child, even longer.

A school in walking distance is a blessing. The thought of driving and parking for 7 years does not appeal.

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/11/2023 20:37

If it’s a state school, would you get the one further away? Have you looked at the admissions data to see the furthest distance that’s been admitted, though of course that changes year to year.

Original poster

AmaListening · 07/11/2023 20:46

Thanks. Both schools are a cycle or drive away, rather than a walk. 15 minute cycle vs 30 minute cycle, and actually drive times are similar due to traffic and parking.

Both state schools, and yes I think we'd get a place at the one further away from what I've heard. We have two kids.

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DanceMumTaxi · 07/11/2023 20:47

I think if you’re getting in the car anyway I’d go for the further away one if you love it. Just be mindful that school friends are likely to live further away too.

Intermittentgasping · 07/11/2023 20:52

Don't under estimate the impact of long commutes. Especially if you are working / single parent.

If you have two kids there at some point and one does a late club you will be back and forth and that's a PITA.

Also thinking about friends - distance might matter.

Why do you prefer the furthest one? Is it ofsted related ?

Pompom12 · 07/11/2023 20:54

It's a tricky one... Sounds like you'd be cycling there whichever one it is. I sort of see it like this... The convenience of the closer school benefits you more than your children. The school further away probably will benefit your children more than the closer one if it's better. And so, between the two options I'd choose to take the pain of the longer travel time to get them to the preferred/better school that is further away. It would be important to me that my children were in a school that is well run, offers personal development, has a culture that fits my values and a leader with an approach that I respect and like. Good luck

LateNightReads · 07/11/2023 21:16

We have a 30 minute commute to school + nursery by car. We listen to an audiobook on the way in and chat about the day and listen to music on the way home. It’s never been a problem. However we do have to travel for play dates which is a bit annoying. It would be nice to have friends round the corner.

Original poster

AmaListening · 07/11/2023 21:23

Intermittentgasping · 07/11/2023 20:52

Don't under estimate the impact of long commutes. Especially if you are working / single parent.

If you have two kids there at some point and one does a late club you will be back and forth and that's a PITA.

Also thinking about friends - distance might matter.

Why do you prefer the furthest one? Is it ofsted related ?

Not Ofsted related, no. It seems more progressive and forward-thinking, and with truly excellent teachers and leadership. I felt calm when we did the tour there, in a way I didn't at the nearer school.

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Original poster

AmaListening · 07/11/2023 21:24

Pompom12 · 07/11/2023 20:54

It's a tricky one... Sounds like you'd be cycling there whichever one it is. I sort of see it like this... The convenience of the closer school benefits you more than your children. The school further away probably will benefit your children more than the closer one if it's better. And so, between the two options I'd choose to take the pain of the longer travel time to get them to the preferred/better school that is further away. It would be important to me that my children were in a school that is well run, offers personal development, has a culture that fits my values and a leader with an approach that I respect and like. Good luck

Ah, you've articulated the dilemma precisely. Thanks. It's the best school for them versus the easier logistics for us.

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Original poster

AmaListening · 07/11/2023 21:24

LateNightReads · 07/11/2023 21:16

We have a 30 minute commute to school + nursery by car. We listen to an audiobook on the way in and chat about the day and listen to music on the way home. It’s never been a problem. However we do have to travel for play dates which is a bit annoying. It would be nice to have friends round the corner.

This is encouraging, thank you.

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Farmerlala · 07/11/2023 21:26

I'm counting down the days until our youngest in yr 6 finishes primary. We moved from overseas and there were no places at our village school so I’ve been doing the school run to a school 6 miles away for nearly 7 years. All their friends are in the other village so it’s not just school runs it’s sports clubs after school, play dates and meeting up in park, parents evenings, school plays everything. Which will continue for a while but at least I’ll be dropping the school run!

I would say go for the closest school unless it’s manageable taking them not just to school further away but all the other after school activities too.

Comedycook · 07/11/2023 21:28

I'd only choose the school which is further away if the nearer one was absolutely dire

Intermittentgasping · 07/11/2023 22:23

If you don't go for the further one it sound like you could regret it.

Just consider how you'd manage vs working commitments.

If you have flexibility etc why not.

Would you have someone else to do the drive / ride if you weren't available?

TizerorFizz · 07/11/2023 23:30

@AmaListening We didn’t have a school we could walk to but used the nearest infant school. It was 10 mins drive. The local junior suited DD1 but not DD2. She went to a private school. We took 35 mins getting there every morning. We just did it. It was the best school for her. Plenty of others were doing the same.

Don’t trust what anyone says on school admissions. Get the data. Do Dc living 30 mins away get places? What are the admission criteria?

NameChange30 · 07/11/2023 23:41

AmaListening · 07/11/2023 21:23

Not Ofsted related, no. It seems more progressive and forward-thinking, and with truly excellent teachers and leadership. I felt calm when we did the tour there, in a way I didn't at the nearer school.

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Have you spoken to parents of children at both schools? Visited at different times? Did the children seem happier at your preferred school?

If I'm hesitating with a decision I tend to gather as much information as I can, but ultimately trust my gut. It does sound as if your gut is telling you to go for that school, but just make sure you've found out as much as you can.

15 min cycle v 30 min cycle doesn't seem a huge difference but will you be expecting your children to ride their own bikes or do you have a cargo bike? If they're tired or it's dark or very rainy, they would struggle with a 30 min cycle each way, I think.

We do the school run by bike but it's 5 mins on an electric cargo bike and about 10 mins if DC rides his own bike - which he does if it's not dark or raining, but sometimes it's practical to just take him in the cargo bike (with rain tent to keep him dry).

Is there a chance you could move closer to your preferred primary in future? Also, it might seem ridiculously far in advance to consider this, but secondary catchment might be a factor too, if you're moving house. Do both primaries feed into the same secondary or different ones?

resipsa · 07/11/2023 23:49

We are 8-10 mins walk from DD2's primary and 6-8 mins walk from DD1's secondary. Whatever is happening anywhere, you are in control and can always be on time (more important in secondary to be fair).