School choices... need help!

milliebear00001

Never choose a school based on an Ofsted report, or SATs results alone. They actually tell you very little about what goes on in school day to day. Go and visit. Talk to the Head - what do they do about bullying/creative learning/SATs. Do her answers fit with what you want for your child?

Then...think carefully about the admissions procedure. Which schools are oversubscribed? Will your child stand any chance at all of getting into your preferred choice if it is not your catchment area school (ask the Head what their waiting list is like each reception year). If you want your son to go to an oversubscribed, non-catchment area school, you need some good reasons why he needs to go there - look up what counts as 'a good reason' at your LA. Religious schools often set their own entrance criteria (Aided schools) and you can ask the school for a copy of this to work out if your son is likely to get in.

bunty109

squibbs25 wrote: »

I'll probally get shot down for this, but i would still visit school 1. Sometimes people pay more attention to the OFSTED report than the actual school itself (IYKWIM).
At least if you visit the school you will still get a feel for it.
My sons primary school went 'downhill' for a while due to bad leadership after the Head retired and a 'temp/acting Head' was appointed. As it was only a temp position i feel that the acting head didn't really bother with anything, teachers and children had low morale. Then after nearly a year an Official Headmistress was instated, all i can say is WOW what a difference. The school is a fab little primary. She has been at the school for nearly 3 years. I dont believe for one minute it has been an easy job to turn the school around, she met plenty of opposition from the 'older' members of staff who didn't like the changes she made, to the point that about 5 of the teachers left at the end of her first year. They have been replaced by very stong teachers and as i say, they all work very well together.
The Head has an open door policy, if you have a problem or query then she always happy to help.

The school is now a very different one than the one i went to view all those years ago (ds is leaving in July to go up to secondary school.)

When the school did go downhill i did consider pulling my son out and sending him to another one (approx 20min walk each way) ,i'm so glad we stuck it out and left him there as that would have presented itself with a different set of problems :rolleyes:, also the second school had no where near the facilites that his original one had, i.e swimming pool and free lessons, masive playing fields as well as several playgrounds.

I would go and visit all of the schools and write down how you feel about each one after the visit then you can compare your list, be truthful to list both the good and bad points. Try to visit with an open mind.

Good luck.
Just remember that even if you feel you've chosen the right school in the begining and it turns out not to be, then you can always move your little one accordingly.

Squibbs

I have to agree with this. A school I know has a good OFSTED report yet my experience of it is that it is mediocre at best. You really need to form your own opinion of where you feel your child will thrive so I would visit all of the schools to get a feel for them.

skintsaver_2

i have just recently had to decide where to place my daughter in september so i put her name down at the three schools i wanted her to go to, 2 english and one welsh, then the 2 of us visited all of the schools and my daughter cried in the english ones and was brilliant in the welsh one. it was only after i visited i decided as i posted on here a few weeks ago about which was best welsh or english.
In the end i let my daughter decide really as she seemed more comfortable in the welsh school.
HTH

elektra-2007

DO NOT LOOK AT OFSTED ALONE! I moved house moved my son school based on the ofsted and really regretted it.
Dont forget these inspectors go into school 2 days look round sit in a few lessons and write a report.
Go to each of these schools and ask questions. Dont make an ap just turn up and if they say there busy or in assembly ask if you can sit in..be forcefull and get a feel for the school. Only you know your children and their personalities which type of school will best suit them.
Dont forget things that you like about your old school...i.e if your on pack lunches and they sit with class mates ask if this is the case in the new school. If your big into exams then ask the teachers how they feel about it make sure you have the same opinions or you will clash in the future. If you are very strong opinions about uniforms and want your kids to wear them check the new school is the same. It isnt all about results you want a school where your kids are happy and you support the school and like its values...read the prospectus for each one...see how the kids behave in school. Good luck...please visit the school you wil know instantly which ones you and your kids prefer.

elisamoose

I hate to put a downer on this but in this area the primary places have already been allocated and most good schools will be full for September!

skintchick

elisamoose wrote: »

I hate to put a downer on this but in this area the primary places have already been allocated and most good schools will be full for September!

They have to allow space for people moving into the area, as I understand it, so there should be a place somewhere.

thatgirlsam

definatly visit the schools before making a decision -
-
when dd started i looked round them all, well the school on my estate was so rude to me on the phone i did not go to visit .... -

-i liked the 'strict' school.. her dad liked the 'liberal' school ... we settled on the one in the middle and she has done REALLY well , it is also 10 mins walk from where we live , be careful not to make them the outsider
--
good luck!

floss2

elisamoose wrote: »

I hate to put a downer on this but in this area the primary places have already been allocated and most good schools will be full for September!

True for those who live in that area already, but there is also a system for families moving into an area (which is the case here).

inkie

Don't overlook the most local school - go and visit and get a feel for it, talk to parents from that school as well if you can.
Although the others aren't that far away, what about the times that you may not be able to get to pick up and need to ask someone esle to pick up your child? Would that be more feasible with the most loacl school.

From experience (governor), the RC schooll will apply it's own admissions criteria, and from what you have said you would be way down the list, and so that may not be an option at all. As you are moving into the area, the LA cannot allocate you a place at a school if there aren't any vacancies, and so it may be a question of going where there is space, or be prepared to go on a 'waiting list'.

Good Luck:D

jovichick123

Thanks for all the replies

Am going to book visits with them all next week when schools back off easter hols. Have had a look on the local council website and they keep a few places for people moving into the area so think we will be ok with that.

Have had a think about it today - DS is a very bright kid (and I know most parents say that) but he is only just 4 (Feb baby) and he can read spot the dog books and do simple addition and subtraction sums. He is however, not very artistic and the best performer on ofsted is apparently an 'arts centre of excellence'

Will book appts and see where we go from there, will let DS pick where he happiest and keep fingers crossed there is a place

Am probably going to discount the RC school. DS was not christened/baptised as I (and OH) believe he should be free to choose his own path in life. If he chooses religion down the line, I will support him fully but don't want peer pressure to have an effect on it so maybe thats not the best option for us

Anyways, thanks for the help, will let you know how we get on

S xx