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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

What is more important?

21 replies

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 09:57

DD going to an alright, not great, local school we can walk to with most of the children in the neighbourhood or DD going to a better school 4 miles away, no local children to home and obviously a car journey away.

She will go to either school for a maximum of 2 years as we will have to move area. She is 5 and currently in FS2. Due to start new school in Septmeber.

Thanks for reading and offering your advice

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Mercy · 23/04/2008 09:59

Local school.

What's FS2 btw?

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:00

Reception, it's now called Foundation stage 1 (pre school) and Foundation Stage 2 (reception) or at least it is here!

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ROSEgarden · 23/04/2008 10:02

foundation stage 2 id guess? mercy?

id go to more local one MCDreamy, if you're moving base again soon, she would be best around friends etc.

p.s, not sure who i was when speaking to you last(pinkchick?, strawberry sumat or other?), but we were talking last year when i was coming to nissi bay for wedding..just thought id let you know incase i sound overly familier

MerlinsBeard · 23/04/2008 10:03

depends what you are classing as not great tbh. but i would go for local school.....you may not get into the other in any case

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:03

Oh hi I remember, how did the wedding go?

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Mercy · 23/04/2008 10:07

Ok, thanks.

Full-time school is tiring, especially during the first term and making friends is very important for young children imo.

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:07

Difficult to say at the moment except their ofsted report isn't great and their website is not up to date (I know I can't base a school on it's website but first impressions and all that). I have heard it has a new head mistress and changes have been made but living overseas and not being able to visit makes life a bit difficult.

We are home at the end of next month when I am hoping to visit both schools and make my final choice but just wanted to know what others thought about the importance of going to school locally, with local friends from the camp where we would be living.

OP posts:

constancereader · 23/04/2008 10:08

If she is happy in the local school, go for that.

I sometimes think it is so hard to tell if a school really is better than another. I worked in a school with a fantastic reputation, and one with a just about ok reputation and the quality of the teaching in the second was so much better than in the first.

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:08

We haven't started either school yet, we are moving to the area from overseas.

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CarGirl · 23/04/2008 10:11

I'd go with local school, makes school day shoret, easier to make friends and have play dates. Being happy at school as an awful lot to do with fitting in socially and having friends IMO

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:14

I am thinking the same as you, having friends and being happy at school is the most important thing in those early years. DH and I can help her at home if we feel it's necessary. I don't want her to feel socially excluded out of school because she doesn't know anybody.

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hippipotami · 23/04/2008 10:18

Local school, especially if the other children from camp go there. It would be sad for your dd to watch her friends go to a different school.

If you are only going to be at the school for two years then I would not worry too much about it not being the best school in the area.
At your dd's age school is very much about friendship and 'being at school' rather than academic results.

ROSEgarden · 23/04/2008 10:19

It was FAB McDreamy...we're coming back in september this year...couldnt do a lot as their were 30 odd of us there so felt you ahd to go with the flow, so we're back to do more of what we wanted and its much cheaper going 4 weeks later to

So are you moving back to UK then???..dont judge on their website, our schools was neevr updated(is is now as its a national thing so is fab) but the school was/is brillient..not read whole ofsted reports, but its local(10 minutes) and all dd's freinds there, and dd has come on in leaps and bounds since last sept!

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:33

Thank you for all your comments, really useful and reassuring.

Hope you have a lovely holiday Rose, we will miss it here, the weather is just starting to warm up

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ROSEgarden · 23/04/2008 10:44

ooh cant wait, are you heading back here then?

i think we all only told you what you thought yorself TBH didnt we

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:46

Not sure when we will be heading back but ideally I would like to be back before new term starts in Septmeber. It might mean me coming home a couple of weeks early with the children.

You are right, I was thinking along those lines but just wanted some reassurance,

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ROSEgarden · 23/04/2008 10:49

..doesnt hurt to affirm what you alrady think does it

LadyMuck · 23/04/2008 10:54

Based on the limited info available I would go to local. If it is truly awful or unsuitable then you won't harm her by moving her after a term.

I think that "alright" v "better" are actually very difficult judgements to make, and you certainly can't make them from a distance - you ideally need to see for yourself. My "fantastic" school is my best friend's idea of "worst nightmare".

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 23/04/2008 10:55

Do you actually get the choice?

Original poster

McDreamy · 23/04/2008 10:58

Yes I have the choice

OP posts:

Clary · 23/04/2008 13:09

local deffo every time unless a really good reason not to.

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