How much does school matter?

[Marcia1989]

We are considering moving because our local school is not brilliant. Poor teaching, discipline issues. Results not awful, but not great. But I'm torn: how much does it matter? As long as the child is not being actively bullied, should we worry about it? Our eldest DC is 9, not one of those 'bright kids who will do well anywhere', but we can help at home if we need to. A part of me thinks education, particularly at secondary level, is really really formative. Another part of me doesn't want to be a helicopter mum and thinks maybe it's good for them to learn to get on with it. Any thoughts?

@MildredPuppy I have had some experience of this in primary. School a happy and nurturing place, good academically for motivated kids but doesn't have systems in place to stop the weaker ones falling behind. I know of a year 6 who left not being able to tell time etc.

Peer group and overall culture of the school are massively important. A not very aspirational area combined with poor discipline sounds like a recipe for disaster (sounds like the school I went to!) If I could move I absolutely would.

@ProfYaffle yes I agree. A part of me actually quite likes the lack of aspiration in some ways. I come from a middle-class, pushy part of London and I appreciate that people here are not trying to join the rat race. The cost of living isn't high so actually it's quite possible to do poorly at school, get a smallish job and be happy. It obviously comes with downsides though.

depends how unsettling it could be to move, whether there are other dc to follow your 9yo, impact of losing any local support network your dc has, lots of things.
I have 3 dc who have been/are going through secondary, and peer pressure is huge, are you worried that if they hang out with kids with few aspirations/opportunities, there's there's chance yours will think this the norm?

in my part of the world some kids don't leave this town when they turn 18 and have barely been out of the county. are you worried that if the aspirations are low in the current school, your 9yo will have narrower horizons, won't get to uni etc?
not sure what your concern is but yes I think a good secondary I important as knowledge and potential is great, and opportunities should be there for all kids.

@Marcia1989 hmm, reading your last post, is it your "right" to make that decision for them knowing you're possibly limiting their horizons, and thinking 'ooh look at this little life isn't it quaint' when you've known more is a bit...patronising?
fair enough to come back to your home patch I think after you've lived a little but if it's the only thing you've ever known that's a bit ...meh. I'm not knocking those who choose it but for a parent to shape that choice knowingly is a bit sad imo.
like you say there's a flip side (we lose a youngster to drink or drugs or rural idiot driving every other year), there is a fear of the unknown eg casual racism through having narrow world vision, quite limited travel abroad and awareness of other cultures, religious, languages, art appreciation etc.
even if your 9yo doesn't want those things I'd still want them to be offered the chance.
probably gonna get slated for saying this

I appreciate your perspective @Stovetopespresso. I like to think that my kids will get some exposure to culture at home, but you're right that there are limits to this if they are not getting it from anywhere else and I definitely know local kids of educated parents who have not really turned out well.