Parenting Forums

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 4:46pm | IP Logged

Max goes to the Infant School next door to his Daycare for his state ran freebie 2.5 hours aday.  He loves it.  This is the school I want him to go to this September.  I'm impressed with it, the facilities are top notch and the teachers approachable - big bonus as I tend to have loads of queries and forever asking them stuff.

Even though it's situated in a depraved area the school (and it's sister Daycare Nursery where the boys go already) received an 'outstanding OFSTED Report' last year. It also has a very good reputation among the educationlists and community.

Anyway, my questions are these:  The Infant School takes children into Reception at 4/5 yo and they leave at 7 yo.  I've already spoken to the Headmistress about this and apparently most of the children go to the local Primary school at Keystage 2.

What on earth is Keystage 2?  Also, what are the pitfalls for children going to an Infant School rather than a Primary School?  I've racked my brains but can't think of anything, but want to be as informed as possible.

One bonus for Max is that seven of his Daycare buddies are going to the same school.

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 4:53pm | IP Logged

I didn't know there were infant schools, I thought it was Primary.

Will be good to read the answers.

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 5:03pm | IP Logged

Well, it appears we're unique then!  lol.

Steffers and I went to a 'middle school' in RAF Laarbruch, Germany which had the same system just different age group.

I've got the County Council's education guide upstairs and it's so comprehensive (not!) because the school isn't even listed so I can't ask them.  No phone number, no unique number etc, nothing.   It's a fairly new school and Lincoln is a bit slow on the uptake (eh, Beckiy?!) so I'll phone them up and let them know there is a new school on their patch!

Any advice appreciated.

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 6:08pm | IP Logged

Hun here in cambridgeshire they still in some area's have infant and junior schools.

Infant is key stage 1 (reception - year 2 (7yrs old))

Junior is Key Stage 2 (year 3 (7/8yrs)- year 6....last one before secondary.... sorry brain not working to work out age)

Most often have them on the same plot of land but it's meant to sperate the older ones from the younger ones making it all less intimidating.....

However round here in the villages they still have primary schools which is the ks1 and ks2 in the same building and same plot with same entrance etc. But they still have the 2 groups.

I personally went for the primary because it was less change for ds and it is a small school with approx 250 students in total..... I would look around go at different times and visit more than once.... if your gut feeling is good and ds feels happy there then i think you'll be onto a safe bet. Also look at the kids do they seem happy to be there and eager... or half falling asleep and drawing on the paper......

hth a little

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 6:15pm | IP Logged

lol tsena...you beat me to it lol....

Numpty head, dont stress about it chica.

They start in KS1....and then hit KS2 the further they go up in primary.  Its just the way the national curriculum works chica.

Kind of keeps the same continuation for them...think Maas First school...and then to Rhein Middle, thats the way this school is working from.

Looks like thats the way this school is working it, Maas First to Rhein Middle, cos we did the first year of secondary school at Rhein and then moved on to Windsor...does that make it easier for you chica.

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 8:33pm | IP Logged

I went straight through primary.

Eds will go through infant, then junior. The school is the best in the area with brilliant OFSTED reports so I know he'll be fine.

Dont worry hun!

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 8:44pm | IP Logged

    When I lived in Hampshire my older 2 went to an infant school then onto junior. At the end of infant school they sit their key stage 1 tests which show what level they are working at. In the final year at junior school they sit their key stage 2 tests and then when they go onto secondary school they take key stage 3 tests .

   I personally liked the idea of 2 schools with their own identity and headteachers . Go and visit the school and I am sure the head will explain it all to you.

Posted: 26 January 2008 at 9:52pm | IP Logged

Thanks alot for the advice everyone.

I'm not worried, just interested really.  I'd already made up my mind by applying for just the one school and not putting down a 2nd and 3rd choice.  It was a tad risky I know, just putting one school down, but the headmistress reassured me that most children who'd gone to the Nursery get first choice at the school. I'm quietly confident he's got in and only have to wait until March to find out.

Plus, and it's a big plus, most of Max's friends go there, it's right next door to the Nursery where lil Tom Tom will be and he's already wearing the uniform for his 2.5 hours at the Nursery part of the school!! lolololo

I'm not concerned about pulling him out of one school to start another either because Max has had so many addresses in his young life that he has this amazing ability to adapt to the most enormous changes and copes really well with upheaval, bless him.

Thanks again for explaining everything though.  I found it all confuzzling.

Posted: 27 January 2008 at 11:11am | IP Logged

Glad you've had plenty of advice here. I was a bit confused about it all when we moved down from Scotland last year - as it's all Primary schools up there (as far as I know anyway!). Cameron started at Marham Infant School last September aged 4 - then he'll move to Marham Middle School after that.

I quite like it, as it means that the school is smaller than a Primary school, and there's less of a mix of age groups in the playground etc.

Hope it's good news in March and he has his place.

xxx