We are just a few days away from finding out the long awaited school results. It seems just yesterday that we moved into our new house and we began to look around primary schools for Alfie. I can't quite believe that he will soon be starting school! He is still my little boy, part of me wants to keep him at home (well at least when I'm off work!) and it will feel very odd when he's out of the house 5 days a week.
I was never overly anxious or nervous when we did his application, I was of the opinion that what will be will be but now I'm getting a little twitchy. Only because deep down I know I'd love for him to get into the little village school 3 miles down the road.
The schools around where we live haven't got the best reputation, although the primary schools are better than the secondary so we had to be sure to the 3 that we applied to. We visited all 3 and each had pro's and cons but in fact we liked them all. Our first choice as I mentioned is a gorgeous little village school, just what I could imagine Alfie going to, not too big but still with modern technologies and a really nice feel to it. We were shown around by 3 of the children that attend their and they were so well spoken, very polite and it was clear they had alot of passion for the school. My only worry about this school is that it is a CofE school and both myself and my husband are not religious, however this was not one of the criteria so I remain hopeful that he gets into here. The other problem is that we are not technically in catchment for it is dependant on how many other parent apply for places, I know that they do have children from out of catchment so that's a positive sign.
The 2nd choice school is in our catchment area so I expect that he might get in here (I am trying to remain positive for the 1st choice but who knows!). I won't be overly disappointed with this school if we get a place here but I just didn't get the same feeling as with our first choice. I did however get alot of enthusiasm from the headmaster as he showed us around and it did have alot of plus points and it is closer to us so I have to look at that as a positive.
Our third and final choice is a school that is right next to Alfie's nursery, great for convenience as Elarna will continue to attend nursery here while Alfie is at school. I have to admit when we looked around it we really liked it and probably would have chosen it as our 2nd choice had the headmaster not told us that if we're not in catchment area then we are very unlikely to not get a place there. To be fair it is right next to a huge housing estate so that doesn't surprise me at all. The headmaster at this school was so enthusiastic and we felt that he was doing a brilliant job for the children at this school, we really liked their ethos about things too but I feel that we won't stand a chance getting in this school. However there was no point in not wasting a choice so we put this as the 3rd.
I kind of just want to know now, the results are available on April 18th at 12:30am so I might just have to log on then to find out. I want to start talking more to Alfie about it, I want to start to help him transition into the new environment and to do that we need to talk about the school, show him it and gently get him used to the idea of being a big boy and being in another new environment. I think he'll be fine, I imagine it will be daunting and a tad rocky at first but he is ready for it and he's going to love learning more and making new friends.
It still doesn't seem possible that I'm Mum to a nearly 4 year old and that he'll be at school come September, eeek!
I'm sure school will be just fine come September whichever school it is. I think it is all about the social side, the real difference in learning comes from following through at home. #MarvMondays
ReplyDeleteSuch a big decision, really hope you get the school for little man that you both want! I'm dreading Archie becoming school age as I haven't a clue where to start and know I'd stress myself out about the whole thing. Thanks for linking to #MarvMondays! Kaye xo
ReplyDeleteGood luck! We are waiting for our letter for School nursery. We all have ants in our pants at the moment. #MarvMondays Annette, 3 Little Buttons http://3littlebuttons.com
ReplyDeleteTime just goes so quickly doesn't it? We have two September babies so we have another year before the dreaded wait, but we also want to get our children into a small rural village school that has a brilliant Ofsted report but is totally outside our catchment area. Our local school looks lovely and is on the doorstep, but has a historically poor report. I will be like a cat on hot bricks this time next year! Good luck lovely. At least by the sound of things all three schools that you've chosen have a positive points. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x
ReplyDelete#MarvMondays
Just popping back through #bestandworst. Thank you for hosting xx
DeleteGood luck! We find out Monday! It's nerve wracking isn't it! xx #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteGood luck we find out about the girls school next Monday nervous times thanks for for hosting #bestandworst
ReplyDeletePretty much the same we went through, option 1 was a great school thats actually walking distance closer to our catchment. We got our catchment and then a week into the school year in September we got told she had a place at our first choice...however she had already made some great friends at her school and seems to really love it so we kept her there. It's been a bit hellish for us over the cold/rainy months with neither me or my partner driving and the school taking half hour to walk there each way! Still, two hours walking a day is good for you right? Still not convinced! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed that you get the school you want for Alfie....I have to make my choices for my son next year. Where does the time go? It frightens me. Hope the 18th April hurries up for you! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteStarting school is such a big step! I can't imagine having to choose a school - I found choosing a nursery hard enough! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteEEEEKKK indeed! It is frightening trying to make these decisions. I am just relieved that it seems we have an extra year up our sleeve here in Australia. My son turns 5 in October and he won't be starting official school until next January (though he does kinder for a couple of days here this year). Definitely getting me thinking, though! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Here in the States we don't have choices, schools are all based on location. I find it very interesting reading these type of posts from my UK friends
ReplyDeleteSo exciting! I'm also waiting for my little girl's placement for nursery for September. Fingers crossed our little ones will get a place at the school that we wanted them to be. It's unbelievable how time flies so quick, isn't it? #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the school place, I'm sure it will all work out for the best:) The first couple of years I feel are just a settling in period and if mine are happy then I'm happy. It all starts getting a little more competitive as they get older!:)
ReplyDeletemainy - myrealfairy
#bestandworst
Good luck and I hope you get you first choice. I think I will be a nervous wreck when it's Logan's turn I think I'll be the the one crying when he goes and not me lol
ReplyDeleteThis was me this time last year - my email eventually came in the middle of the afternoon, it was such a long wait! Good luck! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteOh I feel your pain with this! My son is only 3 but I'm already worrying about it because the school nearest to us isn't our catchment school (stupid right?) and the catchment school is a 30 min walk (I don't drive). Already so worried he won't get in. All the best of luck to you! X #marvmondays
ReplyDeleteAw good luck with the school places. It looks like you have done loads of research in advance so I am sure you will get a good school #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI remember that same wait. I hope you get the school you want! They really are all a mixed bag though. #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWe are waiting too! And as you know with our house move I'm so anxious! Good luck!! #bestandworst xx
ReplyDeleteI'm getting a bit edgy now the day is coming so close too! Though we want him to get into what I think is your no. 2 and we should be fine, but still you never know! His friends are all going there and it is so close so has all the convenience factors but still you worry if you've made the right choice don't you? What will be will be I guess, good luck hon. I can't believe our baby boys will be going to school in less than 6 mths... Just doesn't seem possible! Xxx
ReplyDeleteGood luck lovely! I hope it goes well and you get the one you want, gut instincts are hard to look away from :-) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteYer it's so weird I was nervous/worried too even though I knew wher emy daughter was probably going to go!! Good Luck...Hope he gets the local village school xxxx
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice that you at least have choices of schools ....here in the US it's whatever school you are zoned for or if you have the money you can pay for private school but we live in such a small town that there aren't any private schools. Luckily the school we are zoned for, for elementary, is rated one of the best in our state. I love my son's teacher and hope that she teaches again next year and that my daughter who will be going into kindergarten will get her as a teacher. Thanks so much for hostessing #bestandworst!
ReplyDeleteHaven't reached this point yet. Despite my firmly held convictions that people have become far too obsessed with this in recent years, I suspect that I will get obsessed with it when the time comes! :D Good luck with the decision! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI will keep my fingers crossed for you. We're in the catchment for a really large primary but I much prefer our village school, which is also a lot closer. I've known a few mums to not get any of their three choices which is really unfair! Let's hope your son gets into his village school x
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