Which school? Advice really welcome

[justmeinlove]

With the deadline coming up I am going backwards and forwards on this. Our top choices are:

1. School on other side of village. Super popular, small (although still two entry forms), very good academic results. Has cooking, drama and gardening club. We Probably won't get in as it is so popular though.
2. School on other side of town. Not the best historical reputation although a new Head has started and is apparently making many improvements. It is a green flag eco school, they have animals who the children learn to look after, a huge greenhouse for gardening club and a forest school. And only one form entry. And reception has a huge playing area with lovely equipment.

2. makes me anxious because of the dodgy reputation and 1. makes me want it because of the lovely academic results and handwriting! Both felt really nice.

But I have got myself tied up in knots. Early years in school 2 is apparently v good and presumably the rest will have improved by the time dd gets there. Does the pig and goats and forest school outweigh everything?! I do like the idea of them learning life things at a young age rather than being super obsessed with academics...

What would you do? Basically if we don't put school 1 first I don't think we will get into it as historically school 2 doesn't have many people applying and so is easy to get into.

I'll be v upset if we don't get either!

 

[MindUtopia]

I would put #1 as your first choice and #2 as your second. I'm assuming you're in the UK? You get to rank your choices and if you don't get into the first, they'll consider you for your second, which you should get in to if there isn't huge demand. I wouldn't not put as school first just because you think you might not get in. If you don't even try, you definitely won't get a place. But if you don't, then they should consider you for #2. Forest school and animals sounds lovely (the one we put first also has a forest school and it was a big draw), but I don't know that I'd want to drive across town to get somewhere every day. Equally I wouldn't choose somewhere you didn't have good vibes from. If you got good vibes from both, I'd probably go for the one that's closer, all other things being equal.

 

[AngelUK]

Id go with the 1st school as your first choice and the 2nd one as your second choice. If the second one has fewer applications and is under subscribed the chances are high that you will get it if you do not get your first choice.
But if you put the 1st school as your second choice you will most likely not get it, as they will favour those applications on which they are first choice.

The second school sounds very nice with all the green things and animals etc but I would be reluctant to send my boys to a school that is regarded as dodgy. There is no guarantee that it will improve sufficiently in the next year that it will turn its reputation around.

 

[Babybump87]

The second school sounds very nice with all the green things and animals etc but I would be reluctant to send my boys to a school that is regarded as dodgy. There is no guarantee that it will improve sufficiently in the next year that it will turn its reputation around.

I agree with this. I wouldn't risk it either. It's such a hard choice. I have just submitted DD1s application. We have only put one school down as other school in our areas is non Catholic and another has a bad reputation!

Hope we all get the schools we want!

 

[justmeinlove]

I'm not terribly worried about the driving as it's actually near where my husband and i work

And it's hard to tell how valid the dodgy reputation is, we live in quite a snobby area

 

[k4th]

I would put #1 as your first choice and #2 as your second. I'm assuming you're in the UK? You get to rank your choices and if you don't get into the first, they'll consider you for your second, which you should get in to if there isn't huge demand. I wouldn't not put as school first just because you think you might not get in. If you don't even try, you definitely won't get a place. But if you don't, then they should consider you for #2. Forest school and animals sounds lovely (the one we put first also has a forest school and it was a big draw), but I don't know that I'd want to drive across town to get somewhere every day. Equally I wouldn't choose somewhere you didn't have good vibes from. If you got good vibes from both, I'd probably go for the one that's closer, all other things being equal.

As far as the form goes... I'd do exactly this ^^

Worst case scenario - you change your mind after the forms go in (I know several people who have appealed to move to their second choice school after getting into the first choice). This way around gives you more options.

I'd also think that although looking after animals sounds lovely - you can do some of that yourself by visiting working farms where they let you interact or getting a small pet - so you're not closing that world off.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I'd put school number 1 as your first choice, hopefully you'll get in but if not then you should get number 2. The pro's of school number 1 are a lot higher imo; I definitely value outdoor education and having animals at school would be lovely, but you could perhaps get a pet (chickens would be awesome for a good mix of pet and working animal), sign LO up for a forest school club if there is one nearby or commit to going camping/out in nature more often. Schools often have a better EY than KS1&2 so I wouldn't let that sway you too much, unless the EY at school number 1 is under performing in comparison to the upper years.
Good luck, I found it such a hard decision applying for DS's school place, luckily we love his school and knew that we wanted DD1 to go there so her application was easy.

 

[justmeinlove]

I suppose the problem I have is that i'm not 100% sure whether i am particularly hot on a full on academic life at 4 1/2. School two will basically be another year of slightly educational nursery with added animal petting...versus a really serious school environment.
Tyese are all excellent points - thank you everyone. Argh.

 

[c1403]

It's very difficult, from what you say I'd go with school 1 then school 2.

I also don't like the idea of my daughter starting school, she will turn five just after she starts but some will still be four and it's soooo young. I don't want to lose her (did consider homeschooling too as an option)

We have three local schools, 1 is a church school so very in demand and those that attend church get priority (we do not go to church) 2 is a small infants school that transfers to a large academy in year three and 3 is a huge primary school/academy that has three/four form entry
I am stuck. School 1 would be my first choice but very very oversubscribed and I wouldn't want to set my heart on it, 2 is nice but the academy isn't and all children automatically transfer there for KS2/junior school and 3 is huge and was underperforming but has improved (this school also forms the academy mentioned for school 2, it's that big)....I have looked at all the criteria, distance, catchment and number of spaces and hedged my bets so to speak and applies for 1-2-3 in that order, plus another three schools a bit further away as we have to list six!

Best of luck to you

X

 

[pa2k84]

Totally against the grain but personally I would send my children to school number 2! However I am not overly fussed with academic results and would rather my children be learning real life skills then being stuck in a school pushing to stay at the top of 'league tables'

 

[k4th]

Have you been to look around them both? Sometimes you just get a feeling.

The school my dd goes to has very good academic results, but I wouldn't say the Foundation Stage class was very academic. There was loads of playing & crafts etc. Good results don't always mean that the kids are being pushed from an early point. It will also depend on your child's personality. My dd loved sitting with her friends and playing teachers at nursery - I could see that she was going to enjoy sitting & learning whereas some children don't learn well in that style.

There's more to the right school than just the school - it's the whole ethos of the school, the feeling you get when you visit and what your child will respond best to.

If you're really unsure, maybe ask to visit both schools again? I know I did and got appointments outside of open evenings etc - it really helped with making our decision.

 

[c1403]

Totally against the grain but personally I would send my children to school number 2! However I am not overly fussed with academic results and would rather my children be learning real life skills then being stuck in a school pushing to stay at the top of 'league tables'

Reading it again, I think I'd choose school 2 as well. My daughters nursery is like this and one of the reasons we chose it.

 

[justmeinlove]

Ah i think i am going to go for 2 as well and then just hope it works out. I guess if it turns out to be some scum infested hellhole, there's always home schooling!

 

[justmeinlove]

To contextualise this, my daughter is v keen on #2 (cos of the animals) and I spoke to one of her nursery workers today who said that she's only heard good things from ex nursery parents whose children have gone there.

 

[justmeinlove]

Really I suppose I wish she could go to both two days at one, three at the other maybe. Not too much to ask, surely?