To move primary schools or not?

[RivieraLido]

My daughter is in reception at an Ofsted good school which is 5 mins drive/20min walk away from home. She's very happy and settled there and has a lovely group of friends, and we have become very friendly with some of the parents - it's a lovely community. When we applied, the school looked to be doing well in terms of it's performance data, but this has declined in the last 2 years (coinciding with a new head joining) - unfortunately now the performance for reading/writing/maths is below national and local averages.

Since she started school we have moved house and there is an Ofsted outstanding school with very good performance data (far above local and national averages) on our doorstep - less than 5 mins walk. It's always oversubscribed but we decided to get our daughter on the waiting list since we are in catchment, and also have baby number 2 on the way. To our surprise she was offered a place immediately. We've been to see the school and it looks good in terms of organisational structure and facilities.

The question now is - do we move her from a school in which she is happy to a better performing school? Am I overthinking the data thing? I would be devastated if we moved her and she didn't settle/wasn't happy. Equally, I want her (and her sibling eventually) to have the best of opportunities. Been ruminating on this but we need to make a decision soon.

I wouldn't make such a move on performance data - data is just about averages and trends across a whole cohort and your DD isn't a statistic, she's an individual and a child who has the right support and feels secure can thrive even at a school with a poor ofsted ranking. Any minor differences in a school's performance data is going to be far outweighed by the influence that you and her dad have on inspiring a love of learning and a love of reading and a love of number and problem solving in terms of the time you spend together as a family reading, telling stories, playing games and being curious about the world. That said - there is a huge benefit to having your primary school on your doorstep and therefore growing up with friends who you can run around to their back door and ask to play, rather than needing to be driven to playdates, so I would change schools just for that

I would move her, but not because of the performance data. Having a school on your doorstep is invaluable.

Yes, you’re overthinking the data. Children will do well in any school, if they have interested and engaged parents. It sounds like the school that she’s currently at is lovely and there is a great community.

However, if it makes sense to move her because of your house move, and especially with a younger child following along behind her, then do that. I would probably base it on what secondary schools the pupils at each primary would be likely to go onto, so that your child can stay with their friends. That was kind of what we did - we lived exactly half way between two primary schools and could have attended either, but they fed into different secondary schools and we knew which secondary we wanted, so that was the deciding factor for primary schools. Your child may be settled now but probably better to disrupt her at this age than at age 11.

I wouldn’t move on the basis of performance data, and really wouldn’t put all that much stock in that, nor the difference between an Ofsted Good vs Ourstanding school.
That said, there are real benefits to going to your local school, and in my opinion these become more important as children move up in a school so in your circumstances I would change schools, particularly for a child so young with a sibling.

I'd move her but not because of statistics either but to avoid the drive to school and for her to have friends in the area.

Performance data is not the metric you want to go by - kids who want to learn will do well in most places. And all it takes is one tricky or more vulnerable year group to skew the data. For example, in our school, we’re below national in phonics - but what that number doesn’t tell you is that most of our children are EAL, many are new to country, and 8/36 of them have an EHCP.

if your daughter - and you all! - are happy at her existing school, I’d keep her there.

Ofsted is nonsense anyway, it's just a game and is highly tilted in favour of academies and larger schools. Data is usually percentages, with a lot based on SATS. If a school has several SEN children who cannot access SATS and are withdrawn this counts as 0. Same for the year 4 maths check.

I would only be basing a move upon whether she herself is happy and whether you feel happy with the school and your experience for your child.

No I wouldn't move her. Data is not what you should measure a successful time at primary school by. She's happy, doing well, has lots of friends and you like the school/parents.

If you move her you may end up with none of those things. It's not always a case that the grass is greener elsewhere.

Are you still in a defined catchment area for the current school, and what is the sibling admissions criteria? E.g. if it specifies:
Siblings in catchment
Children in catchment
Siblings out of catchment

would that impact the likelihood of your youngest getting a place? If so, that would make me consider moving. But only based on performance data, no, particularly if your child is doing well.

Thanks all for your replies.

To answer some questions - we would still be in catchment of the current school when my second child starts and in any case, being a sibling is second on the oversubscription criteria (number one criterion being LAC). So we're confident there would be no issues.

My child is thriving and I've been so impressed with her progress in reading and writing, and her confidence. We are largely happy with the school but it's a small village school which I feel doesn't manage very well with children with additional needs and doesn't do very well when there is the occasional disruptive child. It's in a very affluent village and I think most parents are quite heavily invested in their children's education, so although the meeting expected standards is below average, the percentage of children achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths is above local and national averages (I've wondered if this is due to parents getting extra tuition etc).

The school run thing is definitely something to consider though! I mean, a 20min walk isn't the end of the world and there are other children in my daughter's current school who live very near us. She still gets invited to plenty of playdates and I don't think our location is an issue in terms of her friendships, but not having to ever drive to school would be wonderful!

Shes very young, she will make friends in a new school. 100% id move her.

You have a second child on the way. You have at least 11 / 12 years of dealing with primary school in front of you, possibly longer if you have a 3rd child.

Lots can happen in that amount of time. Either temporary issues, or longer term. I'm thinking daft things like a flat tyre or an injury that stops you driving for 6 weeks, even a c-section puts you out the driving seat for weeks. Or financial changes that means having 2 cars becomes a financial burden.

With school so close that also means a very quick nip out and your back home in 10mins makes it easier if either of you ever end up working from home.

Even daft things like parents night being able to wander to school, no stress over parking. The picky child who won't eat school meals forgetting lunch.

I'd definitely prioritise having a school within walking distance. It just sounds a dream to have a good school so close.

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I wouldn’t necessarily move her. Can she have a taster session next week? How does she like it?

If she goes for a taster and doesn't like it then what do you do?
Be stuck driving every day for the next 11 or 12 years.

I'd make the decision being able to get out the door with just a school bag & pram sounds bliss.

I'm on year 10 of primary school runs with cars and buses, and another 2 to go.
I've had all sorts of random stuff happen on school runs, flat tyres, road closures, (burst water mains, road accidents), school closing in 10mins emergency come collect your kids (they had no power and in turn no water), DH going to work with the baby's infant seat.
Come collect your sick child.

Another consideration is direction of school, nursery and work? Keeping in mind work could change as I say 11 years is a long time lots can happen.

I agree with this especially with a baby coming too - being able to walk to school is a massive bonus.

Agree with the comments to ignore the data. Some year groups can be higher achieving that others so it really doesn’t mean much. After working in a school, I would never base decisions on primary school data. If your DC is motivated and keen, they will do equally well in both schools. In my opinion, the social and pastoral sides are far more important.