To get annoyed at "catchment area" school places

[Daiso]

Not even sure if the title makes sense however.....
I'd like DS to go to a school which is 2.5 miles away - there are 2 in that area, both with amazing OFSTED reports and great reviews from friends whose DC attend. Both of these outside my catchment area even though its really not that far.
The school just down the road is shocking, friends pulled DC out, not so great OFSTED etc etc.
I can't afford to move to the area where the better schools are as the house prices are astronomical. Just no chance whatsoever of being near.
AIBU to think it's unfair that I won't be able to send DS to that school as I can't afford to live in the area?
I think that everyone should be given a chance to send their DC to a school of their choosing -maybe by first come first served putting name down or by pre school attended (DS will be going to the pre school in the grounds of school I'd like but that makes no difference)

Then Op, you will have to look at another area. There are plenty of people who attend good schools. Who are not that well off. They bought what they could afford. And probably compromised somewhere/somehow.
You will have to do the same.
Start looking now and you will find something.

No, there are plenty of people that have been VERY lucky, received a windfall on property prior to the double dip recession and used their large profit to 'plan' for their children's future. This happened to my brother and SIL on a flat they bought in North London, it was also a lucky occurance for my SIL's sister and a lot of other people that were able to buy at this time. Some of us were still at university or simply not looking to settle down and buy a property in the 'good times'. They have similar professions to myself and DP but we are just younger and that is all it comes down to 'luck' and 'age'!

Oblomov you forget that many people don't have any of those things to "sacrifice" in the first place. For them, your so-called "priorities" are an unattainable luxury, not an option.

And how can "moving to a slightly not so affluent area" help in getting a place at a better school, particularly if you're in a "not affluent" area already?

An 80K difference - wow. I feel for you OP.

Can I repeat what I said upthread, just for the hard-of-thinking:

"If you are in a local area where rent/ mortgages are affordable in a decent catchment area with nothing more than a bit of forward planning and a switch from branded to supermarket economy baked beans, you are extremely lucky."

Most cities/ groups of villages in the UK are not like this. In my local area, the difference in house price between good and bad catchment areas is 40K (for a smaller house in the good area, more like 80K if you want like-for-like). In the OP's catchment area it is 80K. It's not a case of "sacrifice your garden, and hey, all is well", it's a case of "cram all of you into a studio flat."

Being christened wouldn't get you into the faith school (that I'm in catchment for) on its own round here. It also requires regular church attendance, and a letter from the vicar!

The point is that the quality of education a child receives shouldn't be dependent on their parent's income. We are wasting a huge amount of potential by simply not providing even a basic standard in a lot of cases. Chaotic learning environments, stressed staff, lack of resources, the list is endless.

It's not as simple as moving to a good catchment in a lot of cases. A lot of people are struggling to even put food on the table.

I hate this 'I'm alright Jack' attitude. Simple isn't it. Move to a good catchment, it's that simple...not.

The answer is to improve educational provision though, not change admission criteria.

If you are struggling to put food on the table can you afford for your (children) to travel outside of catchment? There will be no free transport since the intake could be from all over the place.

Yes, I agree daftdame changing admission criteria wouldn't solve the problem. However, money buys you choices. The choice to go private, move to a good catchment etc. It's no surprise to me that people feel let down and envious of those who have access to the good state schools.

needaholiday Not the same for everyone though and not everywhere has adequate public transport. Is it really right, a a country, to force more people on to the roads? ...when there are schools locally?...would we end up all having to travel to massive super schools? (Big schools are cheaper). I don't like that thought either.

Tailtwister Agree with you there but only to some extent because a lot of private schools are selective and not an option for everyone even if they have the money. The job that pays may require you to live in a certain area.

Sorry, needaholiday I've been skim reading, and saw the DSD and her Mum don't go to church.

It also seems a bit daft to say that you've got 4 1/2 years to plan for your dc's starting school. How many first time parents have a clue about the school system? I certainly didn't. It was a complete shock to me when I applied to my catchment school for dc1 and did not get a place.

This dilemma is exactly why people should take an interest in their local schools, lobby councillors who are usually school governors and get standards improved. Sounds eutopian but there you go. However bloody academies will take local accountability away making things worse.

We've got two schools within ten mins. One is shit the other outstanding. I've put myself down as a governor of the shot one because in my opinion it is unacceptable. However they're going to become an academy so I won't be able to be a governor.

I worry for my son's education - so much tinkering has happened yet we still have schools which are allowed to go to the dumps.

Catchment area is not perfect but better than most alternatives. People should be encouraged to use the local schools as they did years ago. But now many people 'shop around' for 'the best' which ends up with some schools have advantages instead of a good mix at each school. Mine go to the local schools, OFSTED was 3s but they are pretty good, you can't always go off the reports.

Lurcio that is exactly what my DH has done to improve the local school - became a governor, got rid of the head, now chair of governors, school massively improved, good heading for outstanding. Is still in the same area with the same social problems. I'm not for one minute saying it's all down to DH, it is a whole team of governors, the new head, the staff working extremely hard that has turned things around. The school was in special measures when he started as a governor before we had children. The more people who write off a school as shocking without doing anything about it the worst the inequalities in education will get.