lovely big house near ok school or small house near v good school?

[Singbluesilver]

What is more important? A small house, a bit cramped, not my dream home at all, but, walking distance to an outstanding school OR a lovely big house, lots of storage, big rooms, v rural, with school that needs improvement...? Primary school age child.
I'm torn!

[NoahVale]

what about the senior school?

school begins at home.
if you are actively involved your child will do well.

i would go for big house, assuming senior school is good enough of course

[DonkeyOaty]

Schools go up and down the ofsted scale like incey wincey spider

I would go for larger house and make sure the children have lots of books and access to nature

[DonkeyOaty]

What Noah said. Grrrrr. Wish I'd said that.

[redhat]

I agree, the senior school catchment is what you should be concerned about.

Loads of lovely big houses around here in a beautiful setting - but unless you can also afford school fees they are ruled out by most because the nearest senior school is in a not very nice at all place and isn't well regarded at all (even though the local primary is outstanding). You have to be able to afford the house and the school fees.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Senior school definitely!

[Notbigandnotclever]

I would go for the big house personally unless the secondary school difference is outstanding Vs poor.

My kids moved from an ofstead outstanding school to an ofstead satisfactory-good school. Best move I ever made. The new school improves every year and the old school has since bombed under new leadership and is currently satisfactory dipping into poor.

[Notbigandnotclever]

Secondary is the school to look at. Primaries vary hugely and ofstead doesn't always properly reflect them.

[Singbluesilver]

Good advice from everyone thank you.
No senior school in rural village, closest is 5 miles away and looks good.
I have only been thinking about primary schools and not the bigger picture.
My heart is saying big house.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Location is everything. Not necessarily in terms of proximity to good schools, but the area generally.

Is the small house in a nicer area and the big house in a not-so-nice area? If so, I'd have to think long and hard about the big house.

[KateLivesInEngland]

I was looking at houses recently and doing this exact equation.
I really think you should be looking at good secondary's and, if you have to, take a hit down to an Ok primary if there are no good options. I think that's where the important schooling lies IMO.

[Singbluesilver]

Jinkx Smaller house is in an OK area, more shops, park, pub, but the house is tiny and new ish.
The big house is in a v small village, church, shop, primary school village hall, not much else but stunning location.

[Singbluesilver]

Kate I think you are right, I just haven't really looked further than primary as children are so young.

I keep thinking, what would Kirstie and Phil say?!

[NCGone]

If secondary ok then go for the big house

[AlpacaLypse]

Primary schools are all about the head and can change almost overnight. Definitely go for big house in catchment for good secondary.

And you don't have to send the children to the nearest primary school, if it turns out to be truly not good.

[Ditsy4]

I went for the smaller house but sometimes I wish I was in a bigger one. Nice neighbours though.

[ShelaghTurner]

I live in a shoebox. Go for the big house!