to want to move house solely for primary school?

[oldmacdonaldhadaseagull]

This isn't a burning issue yet, but will be next year and it's playing on my mind a lot.

We currently live in a rented house. It's a lovely house, in a lovely road, completely suited to our needs and affordable. We looked around a lot of shitholes before finding this one.

The only issue is the area we live in. The diplomatic way of describing it would be as very socially deprived. Lots of high rise flats, poverty, unemployment. The horrible way to describe it would be as very chavvy. This wasn't a problem for us initially - all we cared about was the house itself, not the area.

But our DD is growing up and next year, we will have to start looking at primary schools. If we were to sign another contract on the house next year, then obviously we'd be applying for schools in this area.

So here is the bit I imagine I might get flamed for - AIBU to not want DD to go to school in this area, and to want to move out of our lovely house purely so that we can move to a more MC area and have her go to a school there?
I have had a look at the local school's Ofsted report and test results and it's actually not bad. But I just worry about the children that would be her peers - would they be coming from families with the same outlook on life as us? Could this affect DD in anyway?

My instincts are telling me not to send her to school in a socially deprived area. AIBU?

YANBU. DH and I moved roughly 400 miles to give our DC the best education we could. DH was wanting to stay, but I told him in no uncertain terms that I would end our marriage and move just me and the DC if it came to that.

AFAI was concerned, as a parent, it was my duty to do whatever it took to do what was best for our DC. Also, we didn't have a choice as the early years in primary school set the precedent for future learning, so I HAD to move to give the DC the best start. If it meant that MIL moved with us, then so be it. We ended up giving most of our stuff away and just taking the entertainment system (Hifi. TV and sound system) and a few other necessities to start afresh.

You need to look at value added, not just how many level 5s. And you need to have a look around. There are some awesome schools in very very deprived areas, and the number of L5s they get might not reflect that. At the same time though, if you're not happy, you'll always find a reason to be unhappy.

YANBU

The primary schools in our area are good, but all the secondaries are dire. We will be moving before DS1 is due to start.

I meant a look around the school, not the area!

We rent, and though I often think I would prefer to buy at times I think one of the main advantages of renting is that it makes moving so much easier! Go for it while you can I say.

yanbu

Do what you feel is best for your family regardless of wether you might get flamed or not.

We moved out London completely when ds was in reception - best decision we have ever made - 80% of our decision was to do with schooling.

Yanbu at all.I think many people sacrifice some of their principles when their health or their children are involved.
I did re private health care when I had cancer and I would certainly have moved house if I had to to ensure the best possible education for my dc.

YWNBU move once you have visited all the schools if you prefer a school in a different catchment.

YWBU just to move because of your perceptions of the other families based on their income.

We have moved into a v MC area with a very oversubscribed ofsted outstanding primary school. I went to look round with a view to moving DS when a place became vacant. I'm keeping him where he is at his very mixed, very normal, very caring school. His school doesn't achieve many level 5s, he is now at level 5 in year 5 .

Also a word of warning: My v close friend is obsessed with ofsted and NC levels and paid an eye watering amount of money to be in catchment for "the best" school in the area... Recently her DS's school has slipped down the tables and everyone locally is scrambling to get their DC into the new favourite.

I will be a bit less relaxed about things regarding secondary schools though, but still I will pick the one that suits us after we visit not necessarily the one that everyone else wants by reputation alone.

YANBU. If you do move also check out secondary schools rather than have to move areas again. I know schools change over years but it's something to bear in mind.

YANBU. I wouldn't send my child to school in a deprived areas either, for many reasons.

Visit the school - with an open mind, if you can manage that.
Make a decision based on the school, not the housing and income of the people who go to it.
Then do whatever you like, plenty of people move house for school catchments. And for similiar reasons, too. Though often a more open minded look at the school and it's stats will show that they moved to a school with results related exactly to intake, not to the quality of education.

Its is sad though that this happens, and we have situations where people than can afford to move get better schools than those who cant

I almost wish that they did a more mix and match approach for schools, especially in large cities

I would move for a secondary school rather than a primary. Infact we are already looking to move by the time Dd is 8/9. We live in a good area with brilliant primary schools in catchment area, but the secondary is shit. If we moved 5 mins to the west of our area we will be in catchment for the outstanding secondary.

If you feel it's the right thing, then just move. There are plenty of other people who do this. This is why estate agents highlight the catchment areas for schools when advertising houses.

I would say move, we moved here as close to the primary we really wanted dc to attend (out of catchment - just, it's our back fence!) but nothing ever comes up to rent in catchment as its a rural school with lots of big houses.
It's a brilliant school, they have been amazing with my sons special needs and dd loves it too.
BUT be aware that going to school with richer children means snobby attitudes sometimes. We rent a shabby 3 bed semi, although in a nice village (no school here though) and my Car is held together with gaffa tape. We go to butlins rather than Bluestone etc. I often feel very inadequate and feel people judge us for being poor. Having said that there are lots of lovely people too. Although to be honest sometimes that's worse, DDs best friends mum is lovely but they live in a ,assize barn conversion done up immacutly and ours is stuck in some 60s time warp and our furniture is ikea cheapest on its rickety last legs! I havnt returned the play date yet as I'm too embarrassed for her to see the house :-(

Yanbu at all. Get looking for a new rental and good luck, hope you find something nice.

YANBU but as others have said, I would visit the school first before making any decisions about moving, and also check not only the level 5s but also the value added. If you really don't like the look of it, then I think it's very reasonable indeed to find somewhere that suits your child better. You might be pleasantly surprised though and then again you might not be but at least you'll have some information to help your decision.

I am thinking of moving too - we are renting and although I love our area, it is not great for schools. We are looking at buying, but can't until next year, so we were thinking of renting in the catchment area of the school we like. But whether we can/will buy there, we are not sure. We may buy back where we are now, which is a short bus from the school. How important is a local school? ie 5-10 min walk as compared to a 20 min journey? I'm thinking about friends after school and that sort of thing? I grew up being driven to school, so the local thing is sort of new to me.