A classic what would you do..

[Sticktwistorother]

Any wise experienced mums got any thoughts?

what would you do:

school 1:
In our town, short walk. We have good after school provision in place. (Strong positives)
Child in reception. I wouldn’t say thriving as such, but coping ok & learning well (quite able and is being challenged gently)
2 form entry, big and busy- usual mix of behavioural challenges from some pupils. Quite impersonal lacking a softness- we never see the teachers- head is all business.
Can probs cope with all that BUT:
school 1 cohort vast majority go to local secondary. (Short walk from our home).
This school does not do so well academically. Has been this way for some time (is possible to attend different secondary which is excellent academically and re extracurriculars, but most from school 1 do not, most stay local)
We value academics highly but appreciate not the be all and end all for all children. of the opinion a good education gives you options if nothing else.

we have chance to move DC1 in year transfer place DC 2 next next year at primary school 2

13 min drive
would need to use school wrap around
1/2 form entry. 15 in reception then combined classes 1/2, 3/4, 5/6
big on extra curricular visits and activities
Cohort from a mix of areas (all from neighbouring villages and towns with different secondary catchments) - therefore a spread of destinations (including the ‘better’secondary as mentioned above)
A friendly school by all accounts, I suppose to due size and it had a warm/friendly vibe.

Would you move your DC/start your DC at school 2 all things considered?Enjoy the warmer more ‘active’ school, Set them on the path towards the preferred secondary? (While ensuring some logistical disadvantages)
Or
stay local and have the logistical benefits and a) accept local secondary or b) risk the wrath of 10/11 year olds by breaking them away from their then established cohort and choosing better secondary.

(there are places for both DC)

I am going round in ever more uncertain circles.

That should say enduring rather than ensuring.

I'd completely remove the secondary school issue. Loads of kids go to schools away from their primary school friends. That's not going to be a problem.

I'd focus only on which is the best school. You don't say how the cosy, small school does academically? What's the Ofsted report like?

I'd move them. Academics and other opportunities are more important than logistics or existing friends at that age.

Are you sure you’d get in to the better secondary? It may be that the reason most children from school 1 go to the ’less good’ secondary is that they don’t get in to the better one on distance. You could find if you choose school 2 that you won’t get in, and then your child would still be separated from their established cohort. Also, a lot could happen to a school in the 7 or so years before they go to secondary - one school could improve and the other decline.

Academic outcomes are comparable between both primaries. Both strong overall. Bigger school dipped a little last year but overall decent.
Both recent ofsted ‘good’.

The school in next town is a faith based and doesn’t have a set catchment. We would have the criteria to get in from our location if we applied. I’ve reviewed all the data as much as I can to be as sure as I can be.

we went local for all the positives I’ve noted, I’m just not sure we called it right and having a ‘second chance’ has really thrown me.

My second is late summer born and perhaps that is influencing me (unduly?) as to drop them into a class of 15 would feel far better than 30/60 given three limited comms we’ve had this year etc. but I know reception doesn’t last forever.

I agree wholeheartedly with PP, forget about secondary options. There is a long time before you get to that!
I considered moving my child during primary, but despite the school's shortcomings, they were settled and wouldn't have wanted to move. Would another school have been better? Quite possibly. Of course, you never know if another school will actually be better than what you currently have. It is a gamble. What does your child think?
I think is easy to think that smaller is better, but it isn't always with schools. More options for friends, clubs, sports etc. Good luck!

DC is open to a different school. We have not pushed to topic with her but she is unphased by the light chat there has been.

When I say to younger DC do you like to have big groups of friends to to play with or small groups they consistently say small.

@Ev9in011 more choice of clubs etc was a reason we stayed local at the larger school but in reality they are not big on clubs through the school it seems. Not a massive capacity / appetite to provide them by the staff and limited budget for external providers is the message I got. Maybe this will change in time.

I wouldn’t move based on what you’ve said. Moving away from the cohort for secondary is fine. The other school sounds too small and small schools tend to have issues with finances and providing as wide a breadth of support and cocurricular options. Team sports is more difficult and teachers have to work harder as there are fewer to share planning and other responsibilities. I’d need a strong reason to pick a small school over a large school. Also, a local school has the advantage of easier play dates and impromptu meetings in the park etc

Who knows what the other secondary will be like in six years time. Things change, people leave, all sorts of things might be different.

My DC are in a school like you describe school 2 the only difference is we can walk there.

It's been lovely apart although I'm not a fan of fan of the mixed year groups. DC2 struggled going from foundation to a 1/2 class as he felt he couldn't keep up with the year 2s so effectively gave up.

Loads of communication and feels like we're part of a family but I imagine it'll be a big transition going from such a tight knit school to a huge secondary.

I don't know what the right thing is to do for your family, we have many children travel in from the nearby town and I feel they miss out as they can't call for their friends or meet up in the park like the ones in the village do.

I'd keep him where he is, as long as he's happy and doing well (which it sounds like he is). Secondary school is ages away and you acknowledge you don't have to go to the local secondary most of his peers will go to.

From a social point of view, it's far better to keep them at a 2 form entry rather than a year group of 15. Far more scope for different friendships, being able to be kept apart from anyone they happen to clash badly with, dealing with different personalities and people from different backgrounds etc. Small schools can be wonderful in Reception/KS1 but can be quite stifling for some children by the end of KS2 and it's not unusual for children from small schools to find secondary a massive culture shock.

There are also huge benefits to attending your local school. Children are able to walk there and back alone in upper KS2, most friend live just streets away etc. It's far better for children in terms of their growing independence rather than having to be ferried to school and social events by mum still when they're 10+.

In the absence of a house relocation, I wouldn't move a child unless they are unhappy or being failed by the school academically (in the case of SEN for example). Neither sound the case here.

Stay local. Makes a huge difference when they are older

So the only real advantage is the second one has a warmer feel and it does more trips?

The disadvantages are quite big the distance and the split classes. Have you done the drive in the morning at the right time to see what it's like in reality? Also, if it has a spread out catchment the friends she will make may be from even further away.

My child's shoot was a short walk too and in the summer of year five she started walking home with friends on our street instead of going to breakfast club and after school care which is a world away from driving them quarter of an hour and using wrap around care.

I wouldn't move tbh. Reasons:

• Why saddle yourself with a commute by car? 13 mins hmm is that at 8.15am?
• Bigger school offers more choice of friends and chance to move classes if needed
• I'm not a fan of mixed classes - they are OK but not ideal IMO
• Local is the winner for me unless strongly contra-indicated
• Your DC when in yr 5/6 will be able to walk home alone, go to the park with friends - tricky with a car commute
• Secondary friends are a red herring; IME (three DC) primary friends rarely stay the course. I can think of one primary friend across all three DC who was still a friend at age 16.