Can someone help me make a primary school decision..

[Bilingualistic]

DD is due to start year R next September. She’s a July baby and a relatively quiet girl, tends to thrive in quieter environments. We’ve got two primary schools to choose from, and they are worlds apart.

School 1 is an Ofsted outstanding school, very outdoor based/child led and on the offset we were really impressed. However after viewing the second school, it is huge, loud and chaotic.

School 2 is Ofsted good, on the whole a much calmer atmosphere but clearly a lot more structured learning. One of the girls she’s currently at the childminders with will be going to this school, they are very close and we could ask for them to be in the same class. But will this hinder her making other potential friends?

I feel really torn. DH and I are 50/50. My gut is that she prefers adult led interaction and more structure but should I be jumping at the chance to allow her to just free play outside all the time? Both have after school provision, both are quite new schools and both are the same size.

Or am I completely over thinking this.. I just want her to be happy, it can take her a long time to settle between transitions.

You don’t choose in truth. The school will be chosen for you depending on the rules of your LEA.

We’re within both catchment areas, both schools said they were below intake into Year R last year due to births dropping so I think we’d have fair chance on either, though we are closer to school 2 by about 3 minutes.

Go with your gut.

if you genuinely can’t decide chose based on ease of commute, parking and wraparound care.

in reality cohort massively impacts a child’s learning in primary school anyway and this is outside of your control, but you will help her navigate friendships in either context.

You answered your question. You think School 2 suits your child better.
Theres nothing really between Good and Outstanding.
I wouldn't push the friendship bit, just see where it goes naturally. They nay hate each others guts in a few years, might be ambivalent towards each other or might been bridesmaids at each others weddings... you have no idea how they will ve in the future

If you wanted to go down the rabbit hole you could request the governors meeting minutes and base your decision on which school is less critically in debt, as staffing shortages are also very impactful on a child’s school experience

Always choose a school you can get to easily, walking if possible.

Look at things like wraparound too

I’d say think about the long term as well. Which will suit as she gets older? They mature and their needs change

What time of day did you visit each school. Most schools will be quiet and structured in the morning and noisy and chaotic in the afternoons! If both are state primaries, I’d guess that only the Reception year will be so outdoor based and child led. The curriculum is very prescriptive from Year 1 onwards that it will restrict how much of that chaotic wildness is able to continue

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful. I think you’re right - my gut is saying school 2, I just feel like I’d be stupid to miss out on an ‘Ofsted outstanding’ ‘outdoor learning’ school - but that isn’t always geared up to every child I suppose!

We had a similar choice of two really good schools. One very child led, which is lovely and very much loved by the forest school/crunchy mum crowd (which I identify with in many ways), the other much more academic and strict, but also much calmer. I wanted to be the kind of mum to send my kid to the creative, child led school, but actually she thrives on structure. We went for the more formal school and she's really thriving.

What I'm trying to say is, consider who your child is and what would really suit them, not just what you think you/they should value.

I'd go for the calmer environment as your first choice, as it sounds like it will suit your daughter more.

Structure doesn't necessarily mean formal. Most Reception classes will function through a mixture of short, structured carpet sessions and adult led activities, and plenty of free-choice learning in the continuous provision (home corner, construction, messy play, physical activities etc).

I’d also go for school 2.

If they’re both undersubscribed, you can always swap if it doesn’t work out.

How long does the outdoor learning school carry this on? What does it look like in year 1, 2, 3 onwards? The schools might be more similar later.

However I'd go for the one that suits your child. Schools get marked on many things. A local school got pulled up on it's reading provision for low attaining boys. This is important, but less significant if you have a high achieving girl for example.

My ordered, academic girl didn't really like Reception. She was exhausted by the constant social negotiations. She much preferred the structure of year 1. She probably would have thrived in a more formal Reception class, even though the professional in me still believes EYFS should be mostly child-led.

Don't pick a school based on what they do in just reception. What is the provision like for other years?

I'm like this. Loved the continuous provision and forest school elements and gave a side eye to sitting kids at desks.

Turned out to have a dc who had processing issues who really only started learning and enjoying school when the structured stuff kicked in!

How close are both the schools? Can you walk or drive? Will you need to use wraparound care? Which school do most children on the local streets use? I’d answer these as well. My children are 8 and 11 and loved the local school. They have local friends and it’s nice to be able to walk alone to school when old enough. Makes play dates ans parties easier.

Are both the same size? Our school is one form entry and it didn't suit my DD. She has struggled socially, she's very bright and a larger cohort would have had kids who are more likely to be at her level or closer.
Also Ofsted means NOTHING. Our school is outstanding but they cater very much for the average child, and those at either end of the academic spectrum don't get the necessary input.

I think one form can be the worst of all worlds as you have the same group the whole way through and there is no disruption to the dynamics.

2 form entry or more get mixed up and can be setted across a year group. Smaller year groups get mixed with those above and below and can do work outside their year band without issue.

One form entry leaves you in a static group for years.

I agree 100%. Structure is good. You can yomp around woodland and parks at the weekends.

Thanks everyone.

To answer some questions the schools are within a stones throw of each other, maybe 5 minute drive between them. Neither are particularly walking distance, but it wouldn't matter as I would be dropping and driving to work from there anyway.

Ironically we visited school 1 at 8am and it felt chaotic, school 2 was the calm one which we visited at 2pm.

But.. I submitted the school application yesterday and went with school 2. I listened to my gut, and I think that was the right decision :)

Thanks all!