School Dilemma

[Emmalou15]

Looking for some thoughts on schools. My eldest currently attends a small primary school with composite classes, for various reasons, over the course of the year the school role dropped and there was talk of 3 years having to go into one class. We definitely didn't want this so looked at another school which was considerably bigger as an alternative option. We liked the school in terms of what it could offer; more opportunities for extra curricular activities and a much bigger circle of friends. We have now been offered a place at the bigger school for the next academic year but in the meantime our school has confirmed they are retaining the same number of classes, so there will be no change.

My dilemma is my eldest is not unhappy at his current school, he has got on very well and we do like the family feel of a small school. Is it silly to move schools when fundamentally there is nothing wrong with where we are? A further complicating factor is our youngest who is due to start school in 2025. It is highly likely no one from their nursery will opt for our school and that the intake will be pretty low (6 in this year's intake). In addition, it is likely that there will be high number of children who's first language is not English; in fact there is a real possibility that my youngest could be the only native English speaker in his year group.

I am torn about what to do. Do we leave our eldest for another year and see how things pan out or now that we have a place at the bigger school do we just make the move. Eldest is saying he is happy to move, he has friends in this other school, but I am not sure if he is really agreeing to move to please us.

how old is he?

He's 8

Id move him. Especially if itll be a large secondary school he'll go to. Be better to get used to a wider group of people. Also sounds like small school not ideal for younger child.

How big are the classes?

Small schools have their positives and negatives, as do big schools. Do you think your sons will be happier with the extra facilities or smaller feel?

but I am not sure if he is really agreeing to move to please us.

id be worried about him doing this at 8 with his parents

I think it would be best to make the move now.

I’d move your eldest now.

I would move him now and apply for a place at the new school for your youngest.

The year groups sound miniscule and it has the potential to become a very claustrophobic place or even close entirely. 6 in a year is not sustainable at all.

There is 9 in his current year and I think 8 children in the year above, so his class next year would be 17 in our current school. In the bigger school I think its 25 in a class, but there will be two classes. So approx. 50 children his age, opposed to the 9 in his current school.

Honestly with less than 10 a year they may have to drop a class soon. Or even just infants and juniors.

That's definitely a concern and we could be back to the same issue next year. The bigger school is outside our catchment area and very popular so we've been lucky to get a place. With the eldest at the school we would almost be guaranteed an out of catchment placement for our youngest, as the prioritise siblings.

Take the bigger school, he will make new friends in addition to the ones he already knows there.

If they did decide to mix the classes part way through the year, would you be kicking yourself for not having taken the opportunity to move?

Then I would move him. Although a class of 17 sounds great, it only takes a couple of kids to leave and they could have a mid year shuffle and he could end up with a huge class of 30 and 3 year groups if not more.