Still haven't decided on primary school - help!!

[debs227]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and wonder is someone can offer some words of wisdom!

DD is due to start school Sept, she has a place at our local catchment school which has one class of 30 for her year. Total school 230 and a satisfactory ofsted. I have been trying to get involved with the school and been attending events but i really am not that excited about DD going there. She attends the nursery at this school and although its lovely we have had a few months when she hated going. She mainly plays with a group of 3 other children, 2 of whom are going to a different school.I know this sounds terrible, but i look at the some of the children and feel i don't want mine to grow up like that?? But then again my nephew goes to this school and he has turned out well.

Anyway, 2 of her close friends from birth (who also go to her nursery) are going to another of our local schools. It has good/outstanding ofsted, small school of 53. Mixed year groups but a good reputation and hard to get into. I have approached this school and they said they can offer my DD a place. Its a church school and although i have reservations that it is a very small school it has a lovely atmosphere.
Do i continue with the catchment larger school, or do i go with the smaller school?? Both schools feed to the same high school.
I feel guilty for not using the local school and feel i will upset my family/friends who love the local school.

Has anyone been in similar situation??

Just to add, the larger catchment school has one class of 30 with 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant.

The smaller school has 3 classes. Class 1 - R,Yr1 and Yr2. Class2 - Yr3/4 Class 3 -yr5/6.
They 3 staff to class1 of 24 children and 2 members of staff for the other two classes.

My DS goes to a small village school with classes similar to those in your post.

I love it, DS was shy and it suited him perfectly. Bullying is rare and the whole school do events together so children mix with all ages from the start. There is a real sense of community at the school. The only downside i've found is that the parents are very "cliquey" but it doesnt affect DS just me.

There are not as many afterschool activities as larger primaries but it does run two/three clubs each week which is plenty.

I knew as soon as I visited the school it was the right one, the atmosphere etc means more than just ofsted reports. We knew once we moved here it would be the only school choice and it was a good move for us.

Go with your instincts and you wont go far wrong.

My DS1 goes to a small school slightly bigger than the one you describe (90ish children) and it has been good for him so far (he is in yr1).
One thing to consider is that there will be quite a small pool of children of the same age as your DD so if your she doesn't click with the other children she may be lonely, but it sounds like she already has established friends so that should be OK.
The disadvantage of a small school I have found is that there aren't enough children to make it viable to have afterschool care, but there are a few sports clubs after school.
What I do like is that all the children know each other and the bigger ones look out for the little ones.

You can't possibly know and that's the problem. She'd be fine at both. I think my worry would be if there were enough kids at the smaller school for her to find good friends.