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Primary education

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Original poster

PLEASE FGS help me make this decision.

65 replies

Lyingawakeworrying · 15/08/2025 05:02

I have the option of the following for starting reception;

Primary A: two form entry, PAN 60, currently will be two classes of around 23 in reception, in year one and above these two classes MAY get split between year one and year above (very unsure about this and what it might mean).
Good offstead rating in last two years.
20 minute walk or 3 min drive if we’re driving.

Loads of outdoor green space and forest school area.

child already goes to nursery here so is comfortable and settled and has friends.

Primary B: one form entry, PAN 30. One class of around 24 currently for reception.

Outstanding offstead rating in last two years.
6 minute drive from home but not realistically walkable due to terrain (50 min walk if you did fancy trying it)
Have visited several times and got a great feel from the school, the head is wonderful.

concrete school, no outdoor green space.

child would have to settle all over again, knows nobody.

PLEASE tell me what you’d do, I’m lying awake, having sleepless nights and literal nightmares about this bloody decision, I’ve woken up in a cold sweat having a nightmare about my little one going to school A and being so distressed I had to pick him up😩

OP posts:
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BoleynMemories13 · 15/08/2025 10:28

Are you applying this year, for a space in September 2026?

School A is closer and easier to get to, more scope for friendships, he already knows people there and it has better grounds. Definitely school A!

Don't be swayed by an Ofsted grade. From what you've said, school A outranks it (in terms of being right for your child) in every sense.

BetweenTwoFerns · 15/08/2025 13:36

I’ve been a primary school teacher for over thirty years and I sent my own children to a bigger school. I would consider smaller to be a negative rather than a positive.

Gini87 · 15/08/2025 15:43

school a - you can walk, more friendship opportunities

Bedsleet · 15/08/2025 15:52

I feel you, OP. I am also agonising over school choices, so I understand how this feels like such a huge decision.

In reality, I think both choices sound good! I would personally pick school A because it’s a bit bigger, greener, and I would really value the option to walk. The fact that your child has friends there wouldn’t impact my choice but is obviously a nice bonus!

Good luck in making your preference.

Original poster
Lyingawakeworrying · 15/08/2025 17:54

Gosh thank you everyone for taking the time to reply!
Absolutely unanimous, I really wasn’t expecting that at all.
Im so grateful to you all for the outside perspectives, I guess I need to just stop overthinking this and go with A.

OP posts:
SJ198 · 15/08/2025 17:56

Do they both feed into the same high school?

LadyQuackBeth · 15/08/2025 18:07

Definitely A

This sounds like the kind of dilemma where someone is house hunting and go to see a house they can't afford or is completely impractical, just to see. The fantasy house makes the actual best choice look a bit dull, even though you know you can't live in a turret/an island/a reconditioned train carriage etc.

A ticks every sensible box, make sure you don't taint the experience with doubt, that's the mistake you could make.

Carpedimum · 15/08/2025 18:17

A - especially because you can walk there and when they get to the refusing to put shoes on, lost reading book stage, every moment counts to get out of the house! Also you’ll find the cohort live locally, so lots of opportunity for friendships and a support network for you if you ever need it. Finally, the play space at primary is important, and if you have a boy it helps they can run a bit wild at playtime.

Bournetilly · 15/08/2025 18:25

A

PurpleThistle7 · 15/08/2025 18:26

I can’t work out why it’s a debate from this list, A seems obvious. I see you just preferred the other one but it really doesn’t seem to have anything in its favour. I would prioritise walking to school first, then outdoor space… so a clear winner.

Wackadaywideawake · 15/08/2025 19:02

It won’t be a six minute commute!

Don’t underestimate the stress of trying to find a parking space, getting blocked in, dealing with u-turning traffic, cross parents trying to get to work, etc.

Then there’s the issue of your DC making friends with children who live that bit further out, so more potential driving .

Plan A all the way!

BunniB · 15/08/2025 19:09

School A. Green space and walkable are HUGE positives.

Ofsted outstanding in my books means not much. I’ve known schools to cheat by bribing kids to behave for the inspection and all sorts.

Original poster
Lyingawakeworrying · 15/08/2025 19:40

Wackadaywideawake · 15/08/2025 19:02

It won’t be a six minute commute!

Don’t underestimate the stress of trying to find a parking space, getting blocked in, dealing with u-turning traffic, cross parents trying to get to work, etc.

Then there’s the issue of your DC making friends with children who live that bit further out, so more potential driving .

Plan A all the way!

I just meant that school A is a 3-4 minute drive from house to school, school B is a 6-7 minute drive from house to school, not taking into account any issues or parking etc for either. Just door to door.

OP posts:
Chumbawomble · 15/08/2025 19:51

A gets my vote. We had a similar-ish dilemma and the green space really was worth it.

TizerorFizz · 15/08/2025 21:59

@Lyingawakeworrying Is there any reason school A is 17 dc short of PAN? That would bother me. That’s a serious financial shortfall and they are presumably reorganizing classes based on the staff they can afford. 21 and 22 in a class are not financially viable.

So you need to know how they are going to divide the dc up when they need to. You basically have 1.5 classes. So how will they integrate in y1/2 as a mixed class? Or will there just be one mixed age class? The latter would make me walk away if my child was in a mixed age class because they were the youngest. So I would look carefully at classes.

Other than that, school A. However B isn’t full if it goes pear shaped. Plus bigger is better. Sport, music and drama plus bigger group for friends is better as they get older.

SophiaSW1 · 15/08/2025 22:05

School A

clary · 15/08/2025 22:27

Is school B really a six-minute drive away? At 8.30am? And can you park nearby?

I am thinking about places a six-min drive from me and they are much nearer than a 50-min walk. My nearest mini shopping complex for example, is about that far in the car and about a 20-25-min walk.

So on the basis that the drive might take longer and would almost certainly be a PITA, I would go for school A; two classes gives more options (eg if a child needs to move forms) and walkable is so big. In year 5/6 they will be able to walk themselves to school – winner.

Also you say you preferred school B bc it was smaller – as others say and my thought too, bigger is better for primary (up to a point haha) for social reasons and also more opportunities in general (more likely to have range of clubs, chances ot take part in external activites etc)

anon666 · 15/08/2025 22:41

Primary A sounds much better. Can't think why Primary B is in the equation

Original poster
Lyingawakeworrying · 15/08/2025 23:16

clary · 15/08/2025 22:27

Is school B really a six-minute drive away? At 8.30am? And can you park nearby?

I am thinking about places a six-min drive from me and they are much nearer than a 50-min walk. My nearest mini shopping complex for example, is about that far in the car and about a 20-25-min walk.

So on the basis that the drive might take longer and would almost certainly be a PITA, I would go for school A; two classes gives more options (eg if a child needs to move forms) and walkable is so big. In year 5/6 they will be able to walk themselves to school – winner.

Also you say you preferred school B bc it was smaller – as others say and my thought too, bigger is better for primary (up to a point haha) for social reasons and also more opportunities in general (more likely to have range of clubs, chances ot take part in external activites etc)

Edited

Yeah I’ve done the drive countless times now while trying to make this decision at all times and it’s pretty consistent. It takes so long to walk because it’s quite rural, across quite difficult terrain and VERY uphill plus a very winding walk due to where the paths are located.
He wouldn’t realistically be able to walk it.

OP posts:
Luddite26 · 15/08/2025 23:19

A

clary · 15/08/2025 23:21

OK well you obviously know the area and I don’t. There's a primary nearish to me that is about 5-8 mins drive away (about a mile and a half) but I wouldn’t have wanted to commit to the drive on a daily as the main road it is off gets horrendously busy in the mornings (not at the moment obvs). The school btw is about 25 mins walk away. So I was basing it off that.

Walking distance is a massive bonus and nothing about school A suggests a negative to me tbh.

Anon444 · 15/08/2025 23:22

there are downsides to smaller schools. Friendship issues become more pronounced because there is pretty much nowhere else to go. Also the transition to secondary school in have found to be significantly harder. I would agree with everyone else that says school a. Your child if happy and there will be a familiarity that will help them transition into primary school.

PacificState · 15/08/2025 23:30

I know we’re beginning to sound obsessed OP but do NOT underestimate the absolute ball-ache of having to drive the school run every day (so that’s x4 individual journeys for you). There is something very, very special about school-related driving, and I mean that in the worst possible way. The roads are at their busiest, the parking is lunatic, and the drivers all have murder in their eyes.

clary · 15/08/2025 23:46

PacificState · 15/08/2025 23:30

I know we’re beginning to sound obsessed OP but do NOT underestimate the absolute ball-ache of having to drive the school run every day (so that’s x4 individual journeys for you). There is something very, very special about school-related driving, and I mean that in the worst possible way. The roads are at their busiest, the parking is lunatic, and the drivers all have murder in their eyes.

Yeh we live very near three schools (infant, junior and secondary) and the way ppl drive at home time astounds me (when I am home to witness it).

People park up near the school from about 3pm, because any later and the space will be gone. They then sit in their car for 25 mins. Not fun.

PurpleThistle7 · 16/08/2025 09:09

Everything you’re saying makes me more sure that school A is better. That drive sounds not fun in good weather, miserable in bad and doing it 4 times a day for years and years without good reason is an unusual thing to choose without good reason. To then have a school without anything nice outside is another problem. You’ll also be doing that drive for every birthday party, school club, school event, parent night etc etc. What’s the parking like? Total nightmare at all the schools here so you’ll need extra time for that palaver too.

I know it seems like forever, but in a few years your child will be able to walk themselves to school and play dates and you’ll be done. Never going to be an option at the other school.