To put DD in a different school

[Poodle123456]

Hi- I’m looking for some advice. I have two DC. DS is in a primary school we didnt pick due to school allocations and oversubscribed schools in our area, its a 5 minute drive away (unable to walk due to country lanes) and he’s happy there although we are not fully settled on it. Our DD is in the nursery class there for ease and has just been given her reception place. We aren’t overly in love with the school because it’s a very small village school and we have two schools that we can walk to that are bigger and that we like. I’m wondering if it would be worth me considering putting DD on the continued interest list for our two closest schools, if she got one we’d be happier with the school but could also mean that they are both at different schools for their entire primary as we wouldn’t necessarily move DS if a space came up as he is happy. We both work at home so could do separate school runs. Interested for thoughts and opinions! Thanks x

What year is your DS in and how much of a pain will it be to do two pick ups and drop offs every day in different locations. Will you end up paying for breakfast/afterschool club whilst you pick the other one up?

I'd put DC2 in the school you want. Then move DC2. Local is king.
Think about pool of high school friends

It’s not just the school runs though which would be the most annoying. It’s the other stuff. School faryes, Christmas plays, after school activities and the potential clash of calanders where you and hubby may have to only attend one. One school means they coordinate all that for you’d The older they get it can add to the pressure and commitment and work load. Is there a risk that you may be called back to an office?

Although nothing to do with what you have talked about but my son now attends a small village school and moving him from the larger local school was a great choice for him as he slipped through the net there. His sister could do with a bit more social skills but we’ve put her in rainbows to compensate for the smaller school-friends pool

good luck whatever you decide! :-)

Better to have them both in same school, and better for their independence and health if you can walk them to school (or they can walk themselves when older). If you're going to change, do it sooner rather than later.

One thing struck me though, I always considered smaller schools to be better— more friendly environment for children. I'm curious why you think bigger is better.

In my experience the smaller the school the better! We moved schools from a larger primary to a smaller primary due to moving to a different part of the country. And it's been much better, all the teachers get to know all the kids and their families.
Kids in different schools is hard, my 2 eldest are now in high school and so far this year none of the school holidays have aligned. And not all of the other primaries in the area haven't been off at the same time as ours either.
So it's not just school runs, and school activities you need to think about it's will it matter if the schools have different weeks for holidays - especially with the mandatory fines starting in September.

Interesting that your second child is at nursery there “for ease” but you think you will be fine in future with kids at different schools.

I agree with others, it’s not just about the school runs but the potential for different holidays, different inset days, clashing parents evenings or plays or other school activities. And unless the smaller school is really tiny then I’d also ask the question as to why you think a bigger school is better.

I have one child at pre school and one child Y1. Unfortunately, DC1’s school does not have a pre-school so I’ve got two drop offs and two pick ups everyday. I have to ask my MIL and SIL to help as there is no way I can be in two places with start and finish times 5 minutes apart. It’s only a five minute drive away but by the time I drive to DC1 school, park, drop DC1 at breakfast club, drive to DC2 pre-school, park, drop DC2 at pre-school, then walk back to the car so I can drive to work it easily takes 25 minutes. DC2 has a school place for Sept 2024 and I am planning on moving DC1 to that school (DC1 school has poor SEN provision and DC2 is autistic so need a school that has good SEN provision). I. Any wait for the day I have one drop off and pick up.

There are other issues such as term dates. DC1 school had a one week Oclober half term and DC2 pre school (attached to a school) has a two week October half term). DC1 school is closed today as it’s a polling station today. DC2 pre-school is open. DC1 school finished for summer a week before DC2’s pre-school, etc.

I'd only do it if you were also open to moving DS if a place comes up for him (I presume he will be higher priority as a sibling if DD gets a place?). I wouldn't have two at different schools all the way through primary if I could avoid it.

My child was in a tiny school approx 35 pupils, and after we moved house she's now at a school with 70 pupils.
The tiny school is great until there's a falling out, kids or parents, then it's a nightmare. Personally I'd put them both on a list to move, and move them if both places become available. Do both schools feed into the same secondary?

I know this is an incredibly minor point, but my dd was soooooo happy and excited when her little brother joined her at school!

@Poodle123456 Let's call the two larger walking distance schools A and B, and your DS's school (and DD's nursery school) C.

So, you would prefer your DD to go to either school A or school B, even though, if she went to one of those schools, you might choose to keep your DS in school C? (This is obviously fine - I am just clarifying my understanding.)

However, your DD has been allocated a place at school C.

What order did you put the schools on your DD's CAF? Was it A, B, C (or B, A, C) but she didn't get A or B but got your third choice, which was C?

Or did you actually put school C as first preference - and are now having doubts?

This! What on earth would you do if both nativity plays were on the same day?

Former teacher here. Wondering why you’d choose a bigger school over a smaller one? Small, village schools often have smaller class sizes, a more bespoke approach to teaching, kids get more care, time and attention, and anecdotally, I’ve noticed that kids that come from smaller village schools seem to have higher attainment and better attitudes to education… but that’s just my two cents.

Its not just the pick ups and drop offs. It's the clash of them having different holiday dates, you'd have to be really on it to remember what day one is back and not getting it confused with the other ones.

As of tomorrow my 3 boys will all be at different schools. Ds1 is at secondary and dc2 is at a primary just across the road, he is thriving there and loving it, he also happens to be working at greater depth. Dc3 was also at this school but not thriving, he is borderline average/working towards and despite them claiming to be supporting him with interventions, none have been done (I requested his information). This school is not a good fit for dc3. He is now starting at Dc1's old primary which is a small village school completely geared up to supporting and helping children thrive with excellent pastoral care, its totally the right school for him. Strangely though not for dc2, he struggles with making friends and due to smaller numbers would struggle socially there. Just because one school is right for one child does not mean its right for all your children. I am back to doing multiple school runs but if my boys are happy and thriving in school, so be it.

I would place your daughter in the school that is best suited to her if two separate school runs are doable. Younger siblings shouldn’t always have to do the same as their elder one just to make their parents lives easier 🤷🏻‍♀️