Football Forum | Ticket Forum | Off-Topic Forum | All

Stubbo 2:16 Tue Dec 17
Picking a primary school - what's most important?

From being on this forum for about 20 years or so suddenly it's time to pick a primary school for my youngest to go to.

Would be interested to get the thoughts of those who've been through this and the factors that were important.

We've got an out of catchment school we'd in all liklihood get into that is well established, has gone from being pretty lowly ranked a decade or so back to pushing for an Ofsted excellent appraisal and up the top locally in terms of English and Maths results. However the catchment is a bit 'suspect'...which I accept is a very snobbish thing to think about, but social attitudes and acquaintances do have a bearing on a child's development, and assumptions attitudes do form around socio-economic status, rightly or wrongly.

The alternative catchment school is in a better catchment from a socio-economic perspective, but is recently out of a 'requires improvement' rating and is still establishing itself with a view to then seeking future success. I know a teacher there involved in their senior team who says they're absolutely moving in the right direction but acknowledges they're not there yet.

Basically in summary...really good school, higher proportion of iffy kids attend. Average school with designs on doing better but not yet realised, less iffy kids attend.

Our daughter is already writing all the alphabet, counting and identifying numbers up to 100, reading a digital clock, sounding out to read names and simple words, writing her own name etc so in that respect is at the upper end of a primary school intake development wise.

Thoughts from other parents that have been through this gratefully received, and I'll await the expected suggestions that I should take this discussion to somewhere more appropriate like Mumsnet!

bruuuno 11:51 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

It’s worth considering whether you want them to go to a church school.

I think it’s immoral to brainwash kids about religion, and it attracts noncey type teachers.

It confuses their heads, life is confusing enough without someone filling their heads with bullshit

easthammer 10:06 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Iufbra Iron

When I was interviewed for my first teaching post along with one other candidate we went down the pub at lunch time to meet the "team". Back in 1979 lunchtime at the pub was normal (even for teachers).

It wasn't a big team so I got a round in. The other candidate didn't. I got the job. ( Mind you the other bloke dropped out before the final interview).

I guess I am probably due to get another round in before too long now.

AVOR 9:27 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

1st ask yourself really....how intellegent is my child
2nd ...ask the question again
3rd...pick the school u like
4th get a beer, sit back and await the pain....it will come

joe royal 8:58 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

My mates kid is 7 and goes to school in ilford Essex (ESSEX)

She is the only white kid in the school.

lowermarshhammer 7:46 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

5th Column - spot on

COOL HAND LUKE 7:14 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Fifth Column 7:03 Tue Dec 17

Yup. Exactly that. Parental involvement, and to remember that the child's social / behavioural development and welfare is the job of the PARENTS.

Fifth Column 7:03 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Stubbo

My kids are all out of primary now. The issue with OFSTED reports etc is they are out of date the day the inspectors leave.

I started my kid at a school which was about 3/4 of a mile walk with loads closer, because it had a better OFSTED report etc and had a less iffy intake as you put it.

My eldest child did brilliantly, it started to go downhill a bit when the headteacher left and his younger brother who is only two years' younger had a shit time and a poor education for a couple of years.

The school then improved again after repeatedly replacing headteachers and my daughter who's another few years younger had a really good time.

The secondary both my boys went to/go to had really good ofsted and then the headteacher retired the summer before they started. They got a new headteacher who was awful. School went downhill. But both my kids do very well academically there because I teach them discipline and help them when I need to.

Ultimately, parental involvement and support is the biggest factor in educational attainment. So, personally, I probably wouldn't change any of my decisions because schools change all the time. You just have to give your kids the confidence and discipline to do well wherever they go.

My eldest has now had offers for uni at the top unis in the country and he's never had any tutoring because he's brought up to push himself. I think the main concern about going to school with low attainment isn't the teaching - it's that clever kids can coast. So just stress (when he's a bit older) that you're not studying just to compare yourself to kids in your class/school, you're studying to be the best you can be.

Too many parents want the school to do everything - bring up their kid, teach their kid in the evenings, discipline their kid.

You clearly care about your kid so just remain involved and 99% chance they'll be fine.

lufbra iron 7:02 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

easthammer

my experience of teachers are they are tight cunts.

are you shy getting a round in?

easthammer 6:45 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Branded 4.59
Spot on. Never listen to a teacher. Before I became one I thought like you and wouldn't have paid them in shirt buttons.Once I became one I realised that was over estimating their worth.

As you say all the smart people were busy earning loads and paying taxes to pay for my long holidays and eventually my final salary pension and early retirement. Now who would take advice from somebody that dumb.

lufbra iron 6:39 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

haven't read the thread so not sure this is already covered, but this is topical for me currently too.

i'm looking at the long game. ie the primary school that has the credentials that feed the best secondary school in the area.

COOL HAND LUKE 6:37 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

When I imagine Vexed, I have a vision of Vyvyan Basterd from The Young Ones...

How close am I..?

"NO, NO, NO, NO! WE ARE NOT WATCHING THE BLOODY GOOD LIFE! BLOODY, BLOODY, BLOODY! I HATE IT! IT'S SO BLOODY NICE! FELICITY "TREACLE" KENDAL, AND RICHARD "SUGAR FLAVOURED SNOT" BRIERS! WHAT DO THEY DO NOW? CHOCOLATE BLOODY BUTTON ADS, THAT'S WHAT! THEY'RE NOTHING BUT A COUPLE OF REACTIONARY STEREOTYPES, CONFIRMING THE MYTH THAT EVERYONE IN BRITAIN IS A LOVABLE MIDDLE CLASS ECCENTRIC, AND I! HATE! THEM!

Block 6:34 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

You really are a magnificent cunt, Vexed.

Vexed 6:22 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

It's like a who's who of my favourite stalkers on this thread.

They fucking worship me, bless em.

mr blue sky 6:15 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Vexed the fat wanker knows fuck all about fuck all
He’s in his last year at primary school so bit of an expert in that field
Lazy fat fuck armchair supporter

Sarge 6:12 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

WorldCupWilly 4:58 Tue Dec 17

Good point re the parents. Tip - go to the next fetes and stand next to the bottle tombola stands for 10 minutes.

If they get rammed with people desperate to win an out of date tin of bud for a quid - or people nicking stuff from the stand - avoid.

Block 6:05 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Look at him, the angry bald wanker.

Merry Christmas, Vexed son.

Vexed 6:03 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

I would advise you to top yourself. But actually do it properly this time you useless cunt.

Block 5:57 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Vexed, asking for advice and acting upon it are two entirely different things.

I would advise you to go play with the m25.

OccupyGreenStreet 5:57 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

You’re getting worried about PRIMARY school? Send them to one nearby and easy to get to, that way there’s no stress in the mornings and you’ll know some of the parents and they can play around other kids’ houses without it getting complicated.

Send them to a decent local comprehensive. Unless they are total geeks and no good at team sports, fighting, or being class clown and therefore end up miserable and unpopular.

It’s only post-16 that these decisions start to have an impact on where they go in adult life.

If you live in a shit hole with rubbish schools, forget the above. Move.

Eerie Descent 5:55 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

You won't ever have to worry, Vexed.

Vexed 5:47 Tue Dec 17
Re: Picking a primary school - what's most important?

Do people really need this forum to tell them what should be important to them picking a fucking school for their own child? Jesus fucking wept.

Page 1 - Next