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Schools by work or home

6 replies

Everconfusedmummyof4 · 31/05/2019 10:22

We are currently in the process of moving house. The new house isa 40 min drive from my work. I'll be staying in the same job which I will commute to Mon-Fri. I can more or less work around the school runs currently. I have 2 children in junior school both like the school and it's a 3 minute drive from my work. I've been to look at schools by the new house and not fallen for any of them. My oldest has 2 years left before moving onto high school and the younger 4 years. I'm considering leaving them where they are to finish primary then moving them when they go to high. The down sides I can see are not having any friends moving to the same high school and not leaving by there current friends although they don't see them much outside school. We are hoping they can join clubs by the new house to make local friends and to add to this I am on maternity leave now so would be commuting just for the school run for the next 6 months. After which I'll be back at work full time. If I move them schools they would have to do before and after school clubs......

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Comefromaway · 31/05/2019 10:26

Friendship groups are mixed up a lot when they start high school anyway. I'd leave them where they are for now.

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RedSkyLastNight · 31/05/2019 11:31

I'd move them. They are getting to the age where local friends will be more important. Plus they will both get sick of that journey pretty quickly- and what happens for parents evenings, after school clubs, school concerts etc? It will also be good for them (or at least the oldest ) in a year or so to be able to start walking to and from school and to gain some independence, they will never be able to do that if you leave them where they are..

And from your own perspective, it will be easier not to have to cope with a long drive with a baby!

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hormonesorDHbeingadick · 31/05/2019 11:32

In 3 years you will have kids in schools in different areas. If it’s a different LEA that could mean different school holidays.

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GreenTulips · 31/05/2019 11:33

I’d leave them if they are happy

I went to a high school without friends - much nicer experience than old friends taking up the past!

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icecreamsundae32 · 31/05/2019 11:44

I was in exactly same position as you @Everconfusedmummyof4 6 months ago, we also moved 40 mins away whilst I was on maternity leave. I did the school run commute for 4 weeks and it was hell! Traffic at that time of morning on m25 meant us leaving really early so everyone had to be up and breakfasts early, there was always traffic and accidents meaning we were often late - once the journey took us 2 hours and then I had to go home in the traffic again with the baby grisling and before I knew it set off back to collect them and regularly get stuck in traffic coming home not get back until dinner time! It was hell! I don't recommend it at all and def not fun with a baby spending hours in the car!

My boys were reluctant to move schools away from their friends but I couldn't keep doing that journey every day and dragging baby along it was messing up her routine! They moved to a local school down the road, they've both made lots of friends! Yes it is a much bigger school than their old village school and not as good ofsted etc but we are reasonably happy with it and the oldest in year 5 can walk there and back with his friends which he loves and their new friends all live locally! Just some points to consider!

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Everconfusedmummyof4 · 31/05/2019 11:49

Thanks for your replies. Forgot to add that walking to school won't be an option as the new village we are moving to is a 10 minute drive from a primary school. I'm not looking forward to it with the baby but thinking as that will be short term maybe it's worth putting up with it. Time will tell I guess.