Parenting Forums

Posted: 14 January 2008 at 8:06pm | IP Logged

does anyone take their child to a school which isn't the closest to their house?

We have a primary school right at the end of our road..sooooo handy!  But the Offsted report isn't great (scores a 3 overall which is satisfactory) and - and I know this is really snobby of me - there are a lot of chavs picking up their kids there!!  

The pre-school there is full time only - they will not let me send Ellie part-time unless another parent from the next borough wants a part-time place and we can share a full time one - I don't want Ellie to go full-time until she goes to proper school.

There is another school 1.5 miles away which I would have to drive to - obviously not ideal for various reasons - but it scores a "2" with ofsted and is in a nicer area so I'm guessing less chavs...  I spoke to a woman who runs a local pre-school and she lives on the next road to me and her kids go to the school that is further away - when I asked her about this, she just said I should get to know some other mums in the area and I'd get an idea about the parents at the different schools..I just got the impression she thinks it's chavvy (like me sorry!!).  the pre-school there is part-time so would be ideal for us..

I just don't know what to do - I want Ellie to make friends at school that live near her, I don't want her to feel excluded because she doesn't live close - and I don't want to turn into a taxi either lol

Anyone been in a similar situation?  Am sick of thinking about it all - we've not been to see either school yet..I'm guessing it's normal to visit the school first, do they have open days or something or do you just phone for an appointment?

Thanks

Posted: 14 January 2008 at 8:17pm | IP Logged

I put a lot of thought into Joshua's schooling. I initially put his name down at the local school, to ensure him a place as they go quickly. The school has always been a great school, and when Joshua was born there was no question I wanted him to go there. A couple of years passed and I started to have doubts about the school. I lived near by and heard things about it that I didn't like. There were problems with Jen's kids there, then other parents told me things and I decided to speak to the head teacher. I wasn't completely happy so I did look around. I found that I had to be in the cathement area to attend a different school so I worked out my finances. I could either afford to move to a nicer area, or stay put and pay for private education. I looked for houses and schools while going through the private education path. We passed the interviews, and Joshua passed his assessment and we were offered a place in the private school. Then I decided to move to Wales pmsl I love the little local school here and I know out of all the schools I looked at (and it was a lot) this was by far the best!

Jen, and others thought I was being a snob, but my parents and some others understood. At the end of the day its not like its a year thing, or temporary thing. You child is going to be in educations for many years, and primary is the foundation of your childs learning. If you have doubts about a certain school then its right you should look else where. If you can get into a school you are more comfortable with then you get it, no matter what people say. Its your childs future, they cant choose so its up to you as a parent to make sure its the right one!

Posted: 14 January 2008 at 8:41pm | IP Logged

I think no matter where you send you child, unless its an exclusive private one, There will always be chavvy types.

We chose Harrison's school on the basis of the ofsted report.  Before we moved it was within walking distance.  Now its just over 2 miles away so we have no option but to drive.  I dont feel this excludes him from anything.  Yes, I have to play taxi, but I think you always have too, as there is always going to be a party or an after school activity or somebodies house they want to go to for tea.

There is 2 primary school's one our door step, ones 2 mins walk away and the other is about a five mins walk.  I wont send him there because one is mainly muslim and they practice the muslim religion and the other is well really rather poor.  So I'd rather drive every day to the one I think is best than worry over us not participating in the walk t school week.

TBH, when harry first started I was awful thinking, god I hope he's not playing with that child with a mother like that  but then I realised that no matter where he went you get them.

It's a hard choice, but if you ring the school's they will either inform you of their open day or arrange for you to visit them. 

Louis' pre school is 3.5 miles from our house, but luckily 6 of the tots that go are all the ones he knows from playgroup and they will all be going to the same nursery school.

Posted: 15 January 2008 at 8:45am | IP Logged

Didnt really have much of a choice where it came to school/nursery for tasja as I was constrained by work etc.  My childminder in london sorted out nursery and school for tasja, it was a catholic one, which fair enough I had to sign the waiver saying i didnt mind it being rammed down her throat..which was a toughie for me put it that way.  However...joe and I got married, he got posted up here and I stuck my papers in to come out the raf. 

So lots of ringing round to get tasja sorted for nursery/school...no room in any of the nurseries for her...but she got a place at the primary school...which was at the end of the road..billy bonus.  There were two primary schools that the patch kids go to..and opinions are still split about the two...but as far as I was concerned I was thinking along the lines of...which one is the shortest distance for me to walk when pg and then with pushchair etc...so the one at the end of the road won.  Isla is on the list for a place at the same school...pending the house going through.

As for the new school...I had a choice..the within walking distance one (end of road) or drive, and it would be no choice but to drive.  Now I wont have the car as joe will be using it..so the walking distance one won.  Now the ofsted report wasnt brilliant for the school...yet as the headmistress explained, when grilled by me...as there are not very many pupils in the school...all it takes is one or two of the kids to be absent, poorly, not be there on the day of tests and the whole report is out of whack.  I dont tend to go with ofsted reports, as yes they might be a good thing in some ways, but they can also put a lot of pressure on the school and the kids in other ways.  Im not saying I dont want the best for my girls, because every parent does.  As long as they are both happy at school, enjoy going, like their teachers and get the work done then im happy.  Id prefer a school that is more child orientated than one that is target orientated..which now in the days of targets and assessments is a pretty rare thing to find.

Choice is yours chica.  Not an easy one to make...but do you really want to spend every morning and afternoon...arguing with traffic, finding parking, manky weather in the winter/spring...when a 5 minute walk is sooo much easier.

Posted: 15 January 2008 at 11:08am | IP Logged

you will get chavs at whatever school you send your los to, there is no way to avoid them and im sure all parents would like to pick there childs friends but it doesnt happen like that and to be honest just because a mum looks chavvy she may have a very nice lo and a snobby mum may well have the most obnocious (sp) child ever i certainly know some.

Ofsted reports can be very misleading, they can be a few years old and alot of things can change in that time like staff, at my los school the report is 3 years old and the head has changed and its a completely different school.

The best thing to do is go and visit both schools and get a feel for them, ask lots of questions and see how honest they are, ask questions from people that send their los there but be careful as some parents do just like to moan. take your time and think carefully and be open minded you might be surprised