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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 wrong with me?? Why can't I decide on a Primary School?

9 replies

walkingprimrose · 01/12/2008 00:22

Hi,
Have posted about this before sorry - still going round in circles...

I'm going through hell trying to decide on a Primary School for my DD - got to submit application by 12/12 and am no closer to making the decision than I was 2 weeks ago.

I am trying to decided between the catholic primary (infants & juniors) and the local infant school.

The Catholic School is where we'd planned for her to go as we were in a dodgy catchment area, and so she goes to the feeder nursery, so that she will know plenty of children when she starts. The thing is, although we are catholics we are not truly practising ones by any means and I do feel uneasy about the whole faith school thing. But... the catholic primary v good and the high school is BY FAR the best school in town.

But now we have moved house and we're now in the catchment area for the local outstanding infant school - which I prefered the feeling of to the catholic school as it seemed to have sucha fun relaxed vibe to it... BUT the follow on junior school and secondary schools are not so good at all.

Do I do the sensible thing and stick to the path she is on ie. the faith school route or change and go for the lovely little local school (but then what to do after that? - we could then send her to the catholic school in the juniors, but wouldn't it be cruel to send her to a different school all her friends???)Or we good just go for the entirely local schools route...

It's boiling down to faith school v local school I think(the catholic school is also close by the way, just not AS close).

Oh I don't know what I even typing all this for - I know noone can make the decision but me and my dh (he's all for the catholic option by the way) but surely if it was the right school I'd feel happy and relaxed about the decision, when in truth I don't - and I don't really know why. Maybe the catholic primary seemed big and daunting with its victorian building compared to the 1950's built, light and airy little infant school...(Haven't got issues with Dd actually going to school by the way - she can't wait and loves nursery etc)

Sorry to rant... don't know what else to do -dh is quite rightly getting sick of me over analysing everything but would be happy to go with whatever I want.

Any suggestions as to how I can come to the right decision most welcomed. x

OP posts:

IdrisTheDragon · 01/12/2008 00:23

I think it sounds as if you prefer the infant school.

Shitemum · 01/12/2008 00:33

not everyone goes on to the same junior and secondary schools do they? Maybe you could still get her into the catholic ones even if she'd gone to the local nursery...

cory · 01/12/2008 08:40

I don't think it's cruel to keep her in a nice infants school and then send her to a different junior school; happened to several of dd's friends and they've been fine. She will be older then and better able to cope. Besides, you never know what life is going to throw at you- you may have to move out of the area for other reasons one day. I would go with what feels right now- the infants school that you like the feel of best.

LIZS · 01/12/2008 08:47

By the time your dd reaches Junior and Senior age those "less good" schools may have changed positively or may seem less of an issue when you get to know more about them and meet some mums with older kids there, if not you look again. Go with the one you feel happier with now , which sounds to be the infants one.

twentypence · 01/12/2008 08:53

It's hard to know what sort of Junior or Senior school will need when they are only just about to start infants.

The friends thing is a red herring. She'll make new friends.

Which does your dd like?

Original poster

walkingprimrose · 01/12/2008 09:34

Thanks for all your input - the advice around the friends is very interesting. Not sure which one dd likes really, went round both schools on same afternoon and by the time we were at the catholic primary she was pretty bored and tired as had been at nursery all morning too. But she does say she likes the local infant school when we drive / walk past...

I was trying not to involve her in the decision making process really, I thought that it was unfair on a 3 year old... what does she really know of these things?.. maybe I am wrong... suppose there's no harm in asking her outright which she prefers... I think I was worrried she's pick up on my uncertainty.

Thanks again x

OP posts:

LIZS · 01/12/2008 15:37

I would n't involve her in the process at 3 tbh . If she visited with you and didnlt have an strong reaction one way or the other then go with your opinion.

twentypence · 01/12/2008 17:51

Sorry forgot about the three thing. We start school at 5 and ds was very capable of giving an opinion at 4.5.

SeaChelleBySeashore · 04/01/2009 19:20

We are in exactly the same position as you for our ds - either opt for the good catholic primary school (I'm catholic, but not practising) or the "outstanding" infant school. In the end, we chose the latter because we wanted ds to spend his first school years in the relaxed and caring environment this school had to offer, and I'm also not overly keen on faith schools, having attended one myself. Hope you feel OK about the decision you've now made. Good luck for Sept 2009.

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