Closest school or best school

Savvy_Sue

Spendless wrote: »

How much better is the other school? If we are talking one is outstanding against the other being in special measures, then I would also be wanting the further away place. If we are talking only marginally so, then remember that things can change for better or worse within a few years at either place.

very good point.

Spendless wrote: »

Have you also taken into account what has better childcare facilities if you work or intend to in the future? Not jsut if the school(s) have breakfast/after school or holiday clubs but if childminders pick up/drop off at them.

And another!

wobblegobble wrote: »

Excellent replies thanks to all. Both schools have very good OFSTED reports so in that respect it is marginal. The village school had a better "feel" for us though and seemed more friendly (180 pupils - one class per year group vs 450 pupils two classes per year group) hence the dillema.

Larger and smaller schools each have advantages and disadvantages - in a larger school there may be more opportunities for extra activities, or taking small groups for advanced work, or even finding other pupils working at a similar level.

wobblegobble wrote: »

Also the secondary schools in our area are not very good and the fact that the village school is a linked feeder school for a very good secondary school is another important factor for us.

That would be an important thing for me, having accidentally benefited from it! However, it's worth saying that intake policies also change, so be aware of that.

Becles

wobblegobble wrote: »

Also the secondary schools in our area are not very good and the fact that the village school is a linked feeder school for a very good secondary school is another important factor for us.

That was a big factor in sending mine to the Catholic school, as the Catholic secondary school is one of the better schools in the area.

daska

wobblegobble wrote: »

Also the secondary schools in our area are not very good and the fact that the village school is a linked feeder school for a very good secondary school is another important factor for us.

Both schools and allocation policies can change very quickly and dramatically and it's several years until that's relevant to you. I would suggest that you don't put too much weighting on this when making your decision.

My parents chose my original primary school on the basis of the secondary school they wanted me to go to, it had a fabulous reputation and they were even prepared to move house if necessary - turned out it's reputation was just that, a reputation rather than an actuality, it was put on the equivalent of special measures and a few years later it had shut!

And, with the best will in the world, a lot of parents assume that a specific nursery or primary school is a feeder school and will give them an advantage - have you actually checked the policy and confirmed that this is currently the case. Where I am now you don't even get priority for having a sibling in the school if you've moved out of the catchment area.

midnightraven3

we had the same dilema, 3 children

we chose the better school, it really wasnt a big decision
they went through 7 years of primary school, outwith the area, had plenty of friends where we lived, and saw thei school friends too outwith school hours (lots of mummy & daddy taxi-ing, but their school friends parents were diamond and did the same)

now they are 5th year, 6th year, & uni

high school was also chosen better over closest
still think it was 100% the correct decision

their local friends kind of fell away once they all went to high school
and there was a few years of ferrying them all around, when a lot of other "children" could have gone to their friends on their own (14, 15 years old) but we didnt mind and neither did their friends parents who were (and still are) at making sure everyone is safely home

as they approach the end of their high school education, i am confident we made the right decision
we did have to pick up a lot of expense regarding travel (2 trains each way) and it does mean a little more time when doing anything school related but it was very worthwhile

evespikey

the_cat wrote: »

Deffo I'd go for the better school

Transport/practicality issues last for the few years he attends the school and friendships at that age are transient. Poor education lasts a lifetime

I completely agree. Also a factor for me would be as well as the ethos of the school, the size of it. I much prefer a smaller school because problems can be picked up so much quicker.

pigpen

I'd go with the village school. I like smaller schools where every child is known by all the staff.

Friends come and go and if he has local friends there is no reason they cannot play together in the evenings and weekends and therefore have a broader friend base.. but at 5 everybody is your friend.. just about!

Mine went to a school 45 minutes walk away from the horrible estate we lived on a few years ago for several reasons.. I didn't want them mixing with the local scrotes (and a lot are!) I wanted a smaller school with a better standard of education and I wanted to evenually move to that area so it would have meant moving them when we moved.. as it happened I did that run for 8 years!

Sublime_2

If the village school is almost on a par with the other one, i would probably go with that. If it is sub-standard would ahve to go for the better one.

I'm very fortunate, in that my village ones are excellent. If they weren't I would have to look further afield.

Janepig

pigpen wrote: »

I'd go with the village school. I like smaller schools where every child is known by all the staff.

If the staff are good enough and interested enough then they'll know all the children anyway. As I posted above, there are 550+ in my children's primary school, the accommodation is woeful, yet it is the best performing primary school in Wales (on the weighted scorecard) and not just on paper, it is actually a fantastic school. And the headteacher knows all the children, and their parents and is such an asset to the school in so many ways I cannot tell you.

Plus, as I mentioned above, the fact there are 60+ in each year makes the transition to comp so much easier. I know quite afew children from more rural areas who have gone to very small village schools (there are loads of them in our county) and they have found the move up to comp very difficult. Also, just from what I sometimes read on here, small village schools seem to occasionally suffer from being "cliquey" which doesn't seem to be an issue for me - there are always plenty of people outside the school to talk to!!

Basically, from experience, I don't subscribe to the "smaller schools are better" point of view in any way. There are large schools that are awful, just as there are small schools that are awful. The main thing I think our school benefits from is a fabulous headteacher and that's why it's so good.

Size doesn't matter, it's the quality that counts ;-)

Jxx

Susan_Frost

I'd go with the better school.

Just make sure he attends lots of clubs & activities in the village (& you do too) so you know lots of people and he will still have local friends.

If he eventually gets offered a local place, you can always change if you feel that socially he is missing out and not making friends.

louise3965

I'd go with the one that felt best x