really simple question please....?

[ilovedfatbrian]

I'm looking into primary schools for my DD aged 3. What is KS1 and KS 2 please....? I realise that this is probably a really simple question, but I have no school/teaching knowledge at all, so am completely green! Also, if a school is awarded "outstanding" at Ofsted, is that a no-brainer that you would send your child there, or are there other things to look out for....? (We are in the hugely fortunate position of moving house, the year before she starts school, so I am going to choose a house on the basis of the catchment area, but I know nothing about how to judge a school!) Sorry for the disjointed post! Thank you!!

KS1 is Key Stage 1, KS2 is Key Stage 2. Essentially this means infants & juniors, but it's worth remembering that the infant stats don't include reception as this is 'foundation stage'.

I wouldn't automatically choose an 'outstanding' school over another, it's always worth looking at them in more detail. Ofsted inspectors aren't infallible, and what suits one family won't necessarily suit another.

Foundation stage is preschool year and reception. Key stage one is years 1 and 2 and Key Stage 2 is years 3-6. "Outstanding" at Ofsted is, I think, a good indication, however there are more important things to think about, such as how well you feel your child will fit into a certain environment, how far the school is from your house, whether friends will be local etc etc.

If you are choosing a house on the basis of a catchment area you need to be very careful. Catchments can change and oversubscribed schools often cannot take all of the children in the catchment, so if you are towards the edges of it you might not get in. You can get info from the local education authority regarding how far away pupils lived who got in in previous years.

Your best bet is to go and have a look around some schools - choose which one feels best for your child, then move next door!

that's really useful, thank you both. It's like a minefield, and I'm only just starting to work through it all. I grew up in a little village in Suffolk, where there was one primary school, and I walked the 3 mile trip there and back. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't think twice about it! Greater Manchester/North Cheshire is a whole different ball game, as the differences between schools are huge. Thanks for all the advice, I shall take it on board, and will defo try to move next door!!

As misshardbroom points out, quite rightly, do not go on an ofsted inspection report as the main criteria when choosing a school; It is the opinion of 2 or 3 teachers who cant hack it anymore "professionals" who cannot possibly know how a school operates after being there for a couple of days, they do not see it for the other 363 days of the year. I picked my childrens school because it was the closest one and knew other children who went and were happy there; 6 years down the line things are not always perfect but my DCs are happy and are motivated to learn.