Local school vs further away better school

[warmbutteredtoast]

Finding it really hard to decide whether to send our son to the local primary or another school that is a 10-15 minute drive. I’d love him to have local friends and an easy walk on the morning. However, the local school isn’t great, not terrible, just not brilliant. The school that’s a drive away is really lovely. But 40 mins of driving a day (4x10 minutes) is a lot for years. Any advice welcome!

If he does get into the school further away what will happen when they go to secondary? Will he be split up from his primary friends?

I don't think a 10 min drive is far at all - it's a lot for you, if you have to go there and back home - but many parents drive on to work after drop off so it's just an extra 10 mins on their normal work commute.

For me I'd want to optimise for the best school experience for my child, even if it was a bit inconvenient, so I'd choose the further school if it was me.
I'm fortunate that we do live a short walk from my dc's primary, but only because we moved here with the school in mind, so it was a decision we deliberately made rather than just being fortunate to have a great school on the doorstep.

Similar decision. If you are putting excellent school 10 minutes away then chances are other local families will too. So there will be local kids for them to play with.
20 minutes is nothing.

@GrumblegrumblegrumbleMost of them would go to a different secondary, a few might go to his secondary

@CrosausI do wish we’d looked harder at schools when moving, although the local school was quite good then but has had a change in leadership and gone downhill

Your dc will be at the school for potentially 7 years OP. The above needs consideration too as a lot can change in those years.

Have you visited both? Wgat you are really looking for us the best school for your child, rather than what others may regard as the best school

If you have, ignore that comment! If it is the best one for your child and their needs, then the drive is worth it.

Are you likely to qualify for a place at both?

@PosywoseyYes I’ve visited both. I liked the feel of both, local one has a more deprived intake and I’ve heard some of the parents have been quite threatening to teachers. The further away school gets much better progress results

@LIZSYes I think so, although the further one is more of a gamble

Did you get a feeling which would suit your child best, though? Local gossip can.sometimes be misleading.

If all things were equal, I would say don't underestimate how helpful being close to school can be. However, it doesnt sound like all thongs are equal here. How likely are you to get into the school that is further away?

Have you done the drive, and tried to park, at school time?

@Posywosey I think they would both suit him, it’s not just him though, also need to think about his younger sibling. I really want the ease of the local one, but I think I might regret it. So hard to k ow though. I think we’d get into the far away school

@BirdLandedonmyHead I’m going to do that on Monday- might be quite telling

I think you need to sit and visualise the day when you hear. Pretend you have been given one of them, and see how feej

For me I'd want to optimise for the best school experience for my child

But that includes things like having local friends and being able to walk to and from school when he's old enough. And also not adding to the amount of traffic on the road at school run time, for everyone's benefit.

Our quality of life was SO improved by having a school 5 mins walk round the corner. Very local friends , school gate friends who will walk them if you have an emergency, walk independently from Yr 5 or 6.

4 and a half hours driving a week would be a pain for me , to add to work etc. what jobs fit round a half hour drive twice a day?

How good does a primary need to be?

If they fail to reach necessary standards the time and petrol money saved could be spent with extra tutoring.

Nearer school. We made this decision and it was totally the right one. You can’t put a price on being able to walk to school, and do things like visit the playground together on the way home, and knock on for each other as they get older.

Besides, school ratings can change. 3 years after my eldest joined, his school went from Ofsted rating Fair to Outstanding. Definitely the right decision!

@AlexandraCarrington Yes I agree all these things are really important to us. It’s such a difficult decision as the far school is just a better school so I imagine he’d do better there. So is it worth the walk and friends for a less good education

It’s difficult as the more local one could get a new head and turn itself round and the other one further away could go downhill or get a poor offstead or have some sort of major event at some stage.
Nothing is guaranteed really as anything can happen. I’d go with what you think is best for your son but if you’re slightly out of catchment and you think other families will do the same, be prepared to potentially not getting a space.

@OffTheMap Good point about the petrol money saved going on tutoring!

@Besidemyselfwithworry Thanks, I suppose if we put the further school and don’t get a place that’s the decision made for us

Check the sibling policy for your younger child. There is sometimes a catchment/distance limit on it.

I’ve chosen a school that’s 15 mins drive away. (Although potentially having to move to one closer but that’s another matter)…..it’s an incredible school but an issue with a child there has completely rocked the boat with lots of families leaving. Such a shame. I do think how good a school is can fluctuate so quickly also. It’s only good while it’s good I guess.

DS is only in the preschool at the moment 3 days a week. Don’t forget to factor in another 10/15 mins each trip for hanging around picking them up too. My school run is around 40 mins total without any faffing around and it’s starting to become a bit of a chore. The thought of doing it for another 7 years is a bit grim.

really good points made here