Hello!

I am wondering if I could get some opinions on sending my child to a smaller school next year (220 students in 10 classes). I love to community involvement and smaller teacher to student ratio! I’m guess what I want to know if any other mums sent their kids to smaller schools and how their child/ren coped with with the primary to high school transition (high school being much larger).
Thank you

Posted by anon, 22/7/13

Want more real mum questions sent to you?

You'll need to check this email to complete your signup.
  • That is not too bad 22 kids in one class. I remembered there were times when our kids had 30 which I found even that was too many . Not sure why but we found teachers change more then classes , so if you are happy with the school teachings, facilities, etc. I don’t think it matters that much . The children just has to adjust to new friends so hopefully that wont be too much of a problem .


  • My kids attended a small country school from kinder to grade 10. It was great during this time for all the reasons you have mentioned. But then they needed to move away for years 11-12 and that’s when we realised how lacking our local school was academically. My kids were in the bottom classes in all subjects, even though they were top of their classes in primary/high school


  • I love small community schools!


  • I think both have their pros and cons and it depends what is most important to you and your family. Small schools often have fewer choices for extra curricular activities etc, but the school community is often tight knit which is lovely.


  • Im in two minds about it to be honest we have just left a small school (still 34 kids in the class) to go to a big school because he is attending the special needs unit and we are struggling with it being such a small unit as he is still not getting the help and attention he needs.


  • I have just done it this year and am regretting it. Because the small is so small its funding is limited. They don’t have a choir or a band etc…. so extra activities they normally learn at school are now gone. I am disappointed with the choice I have made for my daughter.


  • There’s a very good point made in a comment further down the page by Miss Smith re smaller school and children already knowing each other with a new student coming in finding it hard to fit in, I agree with that comment.

    On the other side of the coin, a point is to be made for smaller classes having more individual Teacher time.

    Would like to know what you decided?


  • there are some good comments here


  • Anytime you can get your child into a smaller class size, is a great thing.


  • So did you decide on a smaller school?


  • I myself would much prefer my children in a smaller school.


  • Hope all goes smoothly. As a HS teacher, we work with kids from a large number of feeder schools and the key to them settling In is an effective transition program which I hope you were offered. Good luck!


  • Hope the mums are able to help u here…. Interesting question


  • how did you go with this?


  • The primary to high school transition is daunting for all kids so I don’t think school size would make that much of a difference.


Post your reply
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your answer and join MoM:

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join