your opinion is needed - which order for schools?

[Feelingsensitive]

I am applying for school for DD. I have to put 3 schools in order of preference.These are the options:

School 1: PRO - DD already at nursery so has friends
We like the school and it has lovely grounds
Can walk/ride bike which takes 10-20 mins and includes going across a playing field so no roads, etc.
CON- In totally opposite direction to work which adds another 40 mins to my journey
Some of the parents and kids are rough (minority)
SAT results not very good this year (but very good last year)

School 2 - Pros - Slightly nearer and in same direction of work
Friends rave about it

CONS - Horrid grounds. Big main road above the playground.
DD won't know anyone
Again alot of rough parents/kids.

School 3 - Lovely school in leafy posh area of town.
PROS- Great results/ofsted. Lovely grounds. I would imagine most of the children from nice families
Great ofsted and results

Cons - Couldnt walk as too far so would mean driving in traffic although in general direction of work

I am thinking of putting in order of school 1,3 and 2. School 1 first as DD is already there even though it adds time onto my journey to work and school 3 next as I am a snob and it's in a very nice area and then school 3 because I hate the busy road above the playground.

WHat do you think?

Woops I meant I would put school 2 last. Also need to add that I get public transport to work so I would need to leave my car at the school if I were to drive.

Also meant to say school 2 has the best ofsted and results than the others.

1,3,2

I wouldn't bother with school 3 at all.

It must be such a pain to drive to school and as you don't have to, why do it?

1 and 2 both sound nice. Results are irrelevant imho, ofsted less so but read it carefully, look at what is good/less good, also when it was done - 3 yrs ago? much may have changed.

Are you likely to get a place in school 1?

For me it is not about travel at all. I would drive miles if it was the best school.

It is not just about the league tables and ofsted BUT what else can you go on. I always choose the school that is best in my area. The only thing I have to base that on is the league tables and ofsted.

Do I would go 3 1 2

flounder it's a good thing everyone doesn't think as you do

Or there would be about 3 schools in my town which everyone applied to - and either people would be driving for miles (not good for environment etc) or most people wouldn't get their first choice and might even get a school they hadn't chosen! Yoru policy would leave my 3 with a 40-min walk each way and no local friends rather than a 10-min walk and pals all along every road

Anyway, there are lots of other things to go on apart from Ofsted and SATs results. The OP mentions some of them. It's a must I would say to go and look round, get a feel for the school. The school that has the best results is not necessarily the best for your child - which is surely what we actually want?

I choose the school that will get the best out of my child and give him the best education.

Yes I am lucky the school that is by far the best around is a 5 min walk for me. However, there are plenty of parents who walk 40 mins plus to get to school every morning.

I don't understand what you mean by local friends? I assume you are talking about for you child (not yourself). Child make lots of friends at school even those that live round the corner could go to different schools.

Would you really put the environment above the right school for your child?

Do you know which catchment area you are in, or whether any of the schools are over subscribed? And do any of the schools have 'through' junior schools (ie no need to apply again at 7)? Round here, the criteria for getting in are:

1. Looked after children
2. Children in catchment area
3. Children with siblings already at the school
4. Any other children

So there isn't much point in applying for a popular school outside your own catchment area unless you already have other children at the school.

For DS I've put his catchment school first. My favourite is not first choice as he's unlikely to get in, and even more unlikely to get into the linked junior school (very oversubscribed) when he turns 7.

I would go for 3, 1, 2. Your DD will meet people when she gets there, and there will be lots of other kids who don't know each other eaither.

I am far more interested in the quality of the education than I am in the commute. (although I seem to be in a minority in this view)

When you say the walk to school 1 is across a playing field - will that be feasible in wet/muddy weather or will you have to find an alternative route?

Have you visited all three schools. I have to say from your description I'd be seriously considering school 2, I think the opinions of other parents probably outweight the road TBH.

You haven't mentioned if any of the schools have been oversubscribed in previous years - sounds like school 3 could be a popular choice for social climbers, so unless syou live very close you may struggle to get in.

But if school 3 has lots of middle class parents/ kids it's bound to get the best SATs results. That doesn't mean the quality of education's worse at the other schools. + the oP said school 2 gets the best results anyway.
I'd go for 1 or 2 depending on visiting and how I'd feel from the tour. But I'd check on catchment areas/ likelihood of getting a place too. Hope you do, but you may find you haven't got as much choice as you think.

Thank you so much for your help. We woudl have got a place at all 3 schools this year so I think we stand a chance at each. Although our nearest is 2 but only 100 metres closer than 1. We are not that near any of them (each at least 1KM away) so who knows whether we will get any. I spoke to someone using 2 today and she loves it but I really hate that road. Probably need to compromise on that one. Ultimately its a numbers game. I have see all expect 2 so once I have seen that one I will probably be able to make up my mind. Thanks again.