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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Private school or move house

84 replies

Snowpatrolsnowpatrol · 18/10/2022 22:24

I'm not sure if I'm writing in the right section but I'm in a dilemma about secondary schools for my DC.

There are very few secondary schools in our area that have any sort of decent reputation. We have an option of going into a fee paying boys only secondary school (school A). It has small class sizes and has an excellent rating. Aside from the academic side (although that is the most important angle for me), I think it would offer DS a community type environment which would suit his personality. The extra curricular activities are great too and include many of which he already does and I think it would overall be a fantastic school for him. We can just about manage the fees with a bit of scrimping and saving. It would mean taking a bus which is more than half an hour each way but could read/revise on bus.

We live in an area that I really dislike. Its in a big housing estate, there is no community feel and the amenities are few and far between. Although I have lived here for years and years, I don't know our neighbours. We wave to each other while passing in cars and say hello if we are both of us are on our drives at the same time. Cars are needed to everywhere. I've never been happy here but we've worked on the house little by little and selling it would give us a 300K deposit towards another property.

If we moved five miles away, we could buy a smaller house in an area that has more of a community feel to it. It isn't much better than where we are but there is a large non fee paying secondary school (school B) in the area and because of that the house prices are roughly 200K more than where we live currently. The houses we could afford would mean we are starting over again with doing up the house. The school has a good rating. It is mixed which my son would prefer. Because it is so large, it has a lot of extra curricular activities too, although they aren't run as well as school A. Results are good from school B but not as good as school A. If we lived in the area, our son could walk/cycle to school and maybe make friends locally with classmates. The area would be a little nicer to live in too. His commute to school would be less than half an hour each way and that would be either walking/cycling.

To complicate things further, I have two children. While DS1 would prefer a mixed school, his younger brother would prefer a single sex school. His younger brother would also benefit from smaller class sizes in school A and because they focus on results, I know they would help him reach to his full potential even if that is not very high.

What is the best thing to do? Prioritise school A and continue living in a area I'm really unhappy in or move house and see if we can get into school B and perhaps enjoying living in that area more than where we live now?

Both boys must attend the same school. Different schools are not optional.

OP posts:
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Postapocalypticcowgirl · 28/10/2022 15:29

There are plenty of areas of the country where going to a feeder school wouldn't matter. If moving a longer distance is viable, I'd investigate that.

Regardless, I think if you're serious about moving somewhere, you'd probably need to start looking soon?

At first, you didn't sound that keen on school A, but now you do. If your second child would also get in, then maybe it makes sense to go for school A and see if there is somewhere else you can move to that you like.

marmiteadict · 27/10/2022 20:13

@Katcol5 thank you for your charming private message. What a surprise you have name changed but fortunately not in time.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/10/2022 09:55

Our local (outstanding) comp has feeder primary as one of its higher criteria. But we're in a village setting, the comprehensive has 6 village schools feeding into it, so almost everyone at the feeder schools lives in the catchment.

TeenDivided · 22/10/2022 08:11

In my part of hants we have officially linked primary schools aka feeder.

The order goes: catchment, feeder, out catchment. So being at the linked school only helps if you live out of catchment.

Live4weekend · 22/10/2022 00:03

sheepdogdelight · 19/10/2022 14:27

Answering for my area - I guess people know the school admissions criteria when they move house? And catchment areas aren't normally drawn with the school as their centre either (our catchment junior school is 1.5 miles away from people at the edge of catchment who are 200m from a non-catchment school they can't get a place at) so there is already "unfairness" in the system.

It can work both ways - some people get their children into feeder primaries to bump them up the admissions criteria for their preferred secondary - and then move. Others move schools in Year 5 or 6 (my DC used to go to a junior school that had a "bad reputation" but suddenly became very popular in Year 5 and 6 when parents realised it was a feeder for a sought after comp.

The not getting into your catchment secondary if your child didn't attend a feeder school is normally an anomaly blip when new areas of housing spring up and there are more children in the area than places at the local school. Historically this has adjusted over time (more school provision made available).

Show quote history

I think this is often true. My child is in catchment but not at a feeder school. Head said catchment is Key. It may be important for the handful of places offered to out of catchment children (after out of catchment siblings).

questioningall · 20/10/2022 16:37

I was in a very similar position. I managed to get my DS1 to one of the schools at the area I wanted to move. The area is a hothouse for good schooling in the area. I disliked the school and moved him to private. I started again with DS2, which again managed to get in to THE outstanding school of the said area. I was commuting 20 mins to each school opposite directions for some time. I realised that on the academic side the school was not what I wanted for my children. Private all the way. Small class size is one of the most important factors.
I ended up staying in a house that I doesn't cover our needs, in an area I dislike but at least I am doing the best for my children.

CakesOfVersailles · 19/10/2022 20:51

I would say School A because what are your chances of B? You say it's oversubscribed and you can't afford to move to the guaranteed catchment. What happens if you move, your son doesn't get a place, and then you can't afford fees anymore because of the cost of the new house? What back up school is in the area?

Mind you, is DS2 guaranteed a place at school A? You said the brothers must go to the same school. What happens if DS2 doesn't get in to school A?

I think possibly your dislike of your area and the school issue are related but separate issues. Honestly, I wouldn't encourage downsizing with your kids going into their teen years. If moving to a nicer but similarly priced place with 30 mins of school A is not possible, moving into the guaranteed catchment for B is not possible, and you aren't moving somewhere completely different in then country, I'd say stick it out for now and pick A.

It's also possible to make an area have more of a community feel by getting involved in things. Some places have an organic community, others you have to work at helping create one. To be honest I'm not sure the village communities you mentioned are so great if they look down on people living just outside the village!

sheepdogdelight · 19/10/2022 14:27

Jackiewoo · 19/10/2022 14:12

bit of a thread drift but feeder schools for state comprehensives - I'm shocked, not saying its not happening I guess I don't live in an area where this happens but I just didn't think the Education Authorities were allowed to do that, it goes against the idea of fairness in the comprehensive system. What happens if a DC lives across the street from the comp but isn't at the 'right' primary?

Answering for my area - I guess people know the school admissions criteria when they move house? And catchment areas aren't normally drawn with the school as their centre either (our catchment junior school is 1.5 miles away from people at the edge of catchment who are 200m from a non-catchment school they can't get a place at) so there is already "unfairness" in the system.

It can work both ways - some people get their children into feeder primaries to bump them up the admissions criteria for their preferred secondary - and then move. Others move schools in Year 5 or 6 (my DC used to go to a junior school that had a "bad reputation" but suddenly became very popular in Year 5 and 6 when parents realised it was a feeder for a sought after comp.

The not getting into your catchment secondary if your child didn't attend a feeder school is normally an anomaly blip when new areas of housing spring up and there are more children in the area than places at the local school. Historically this has adjusted over time (more school provision made available).

Jackiewoo · 19/10/2022 14:12

bit of a thread drift but feeder schools for state comprehensives - I'm shocked, not saying its not happening I guess I don't live in an area where this happens but I just didn't think the Education Authorities were allowed to do that, it goes against the idea of fairness in the comprehensive system. What happens if a DC lives across the street from the comp but isn't at the 'right' primary?

clary · 19/10/2022 14:12

sheepdogdelight · 19/10/2022 13:18

As another poster says, secondary schools (I am assuming you mean state schools here) only rarely admit via feeder schools.

This depends entirely on the area. In my area feeder schools are one of the top priority criteria for virtually every secondary school. There are often schools where you needed to be at a feeder school and in catchment to have got a place.

OP - if the school has such great academic results, I'm guessing it may be selective? What if your DC don't get in?

Interesting, I didn't realise many places still did this. OP's area clearly still does as well - but be assured OP that not everywhere does (or no one would ever move house after about year 4 I suppose). If you are thinking of moving somewhere to target school C, then you can research whether feeder schools are a criterion.

Original poster
Snowpatrolsnowpatrol · 19/10/2022 13:57

I suppose it’s something concrete v risky. And writing it down helps.

Catchment and feeder are the criteria. But most kids are in the feeder primaries as they live in the area. After that distance. Kids are in a feeder for school B so fit that part of the criteria. School B then takes applicants on distance. It changes annually depending on the number of applicants although if they build another estate, it will get into the catchment and an existing road will be put further down the list. It seems to be a way of guaranteeing high prices for new builds.

OP posts:
Vinylloving · 19/10/2022 13:31

You sound like you've made your choice and it's school A. Sometimes I do wonder if people post on here hoping to get confirmation their choice is ok, rather than genuinely asking for advice between two options and being open to both. It's ok if you have already decided, just go with it!

Goawayangryman · 19/10/2022 13:29

*even if there wasn't one that obviously stood out, I meant.

Goawayangryman · 19/10/2022 13:25

School A, if it is selective, is going to have amazing results, partially because it selects. It may also be brilliant of course.

School B, sounds like you might not get in. Admission distances can change from year to year - big, big gamble. Friends did this for primary. They didn't get in.

I think when people asked about reputation, they were asking about which other local schools you'd discounted on poor reputation, and what was poor about their reputation. There must be another state-funded school that your children would get into from your current address. Indeed the council would have to find you one somewhere even if there wasn't one.

sheepdogdelight · 19/10/2022 13:18

As another poster says, secondary schools (I am assuming you mean state schools here) only rarely admit via feeder schools.

This depends entirely on the area. In my area feeder schools are one of the top priority criteria for virtually every secondary school. There are often schools where you needed to be at a feeder school and in catchment to have got a place.

OP - if the school has such great academic results, I'm guessing it may be selective? What if your DC don't get in?

AlwaysLatte · 19/10/2022 13:00

I don't think it would be fair to send one to a non fee-paying school and not the other. If the one at state school hates it they will really resent you for it. I think I would downsize, possibly think about other areas you haven't considered yet, but only if you can build in wiggle room for mortgage going up or loss or earnings. Or consider a different school locally with extra private tuition. But as you are also unhappy with where you are on top of the lack of decent state schools it does seem to be pointing toward moving.

Whistlesandbell · 19/10/2022 12:48

You need to phone the council and find the exact catchment area for school B.
I personally would hate to live in an area I am unhappy with when I have the money to send two DC to private secondary school. There must be an option where you can live in an area you like, get the community feel you are after and find a nice school.

clary · 19/10/2022 12:44

Snowpatrolsnowpatrol · 19/10/2022 12:12

My preference would be to relocate completely. I have looked into this and schools are causing a problem. My kids won’t have been in. a feeder school so not guaranteed places to secondary.

A few years ago I contacted primary schools in the area and couldn’t get them into any!

As another poster says, secondary schools (I am assuming you mean state schools here) only rarely admit via feeder schools.

Most secondaries I know (certainly all the ones where I live) admit based on distance basically (once categories such as LAC and named school are met - these don't tend to be many children). So live near enough to the school and you will get in. The information about how far away to live is on the LA website.

Wrt the nearby school you are considering, bear in mind that 800 applicants means (most likely) that 800 people put it somewhere on their form. Maybe not all put it first. And if it is popular, chances are a lot of people put it as an optimistic choice that they have no chance of getting in to. If you are near enough to it, you should get in. That info is out there to be found.

Jackiewoo · 19/10/2022 12:29

If your preference is to relocate completely, have you considered private prep if there are no local state primary school places where you'd like to move to, then a good state comp/grammar from Y7 onwards? State senior schools don't have feeder schools, they go off distance to home. It can work really well, we did it with one of ours, DC choice, they had all the benefit of prep school activities and interests which they've taken with them to grammar, they love it and are thriving, and it saves a LOT of money.

I wouldn't spend any time thinking about the wealth of the DC/families at the indy. I've met all sorts, plenty of state school workers (teachers and admin), NHS workers, police, factory workers, farmers, hairdressers, a painter & decorator, a taxi driver, as well as some toffs/celebrities etc.

Piffpaffpoff · 19/10/2022 12:22

The main point I see is that you could move for school B and then not even get a place. I am totally risk averse and so would say school A and tolerate your house/area for now.

WHEREEL · 19/10/2022 12:20

We’ve had a similar dilemma for our daughter whose just turned three. In those three years two of the state secondary schools we considered moving for have been rated inadequate after being outstanding for decades.

Each year we’ve attended the open day for the private school and every year it feels like the right fit. She’ll be starting there in September and we’ll staying in our current house the cost of living changes have settled down

Whistlesandbell · 19/10/2022 12:16

How old are your DC?

Whistlesandbell · 19/10/2022 12:15

Could you move to a nice area with an above average secondary school and they go there? Then they get a good education and you all get the community feel you are after?

Original poster
Snowpatrolsnowpatrol · 19/10/2022 12:12

My preference would be to relocate completely. I have looked into this and schools are causing a problem. My kids won’t have been in. a feeder school so not guaranteed places to secondary.

A few years ago I contacted primary schools in the area and couldn’t get them into any!

OP posts:
Jackiewoo · 19/10/2022 12:08

Distance re friends doesn't matter IME. They use the internet/mobile phones/online gaming and travel about to meet up when they get a bit older.