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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To move my DS to an out of area school?

28 replies

schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:42

Me and DH are really, really struggling to come to a decision about this and could do with a bit of advice from other parents.

Our house is on the market and we have identified the village we want to move to - which is about a seven minute drive away.

DS has a school place at his catchment school - to start in Sept.

The village school has spaces - and, we think, there would also be a place for DS there to start in Sept.

We don't know what to do! Do we put him in the village school in the hope a move will happen relatively quickly (it would actually take the pressure off in terms of reducing the house to a ridiculous price to shift it).

Or do we keep him where he is, start him in Sept at catchment school and then move him when we do actually move?

In my head Sept is a great chance to move him with the minimum impact on him as there will be a mix of new faces, a new classroom and new teacher at both schools.

Also I just don't think that once he's started at a school FT I would want to move him, as he'll have started making friends and have already gone through one transition already.

Equally though - is sending DS to a random village school strange given we don't yet actually live there.

Any input appreciated. My head is totally done it with it all and so is DH's.

OP posts:
exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 30/04/2015 21:45

You may find that the village school won't accept him until you have an address in the village - that is what happened to us. We spoke to the school (the only one with spaces in a 5 mile radius Shock) and were told that, yes, there was a space but that we couldn't be given one until we could prove our house purchase was going ahead.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:49

Can they do that though if there is spaces?

OP posts:
Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:49

Are spaces rather! Duh!

OP posts:
exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 30/04/2015 21:54

Yes, because you wouldn't be in catchment, and they have to consider spaces for catchment kids, or at least 'closer than you' kids that need the space. what if they gave you their last space, and you never moved to the village?

Our school currently has 'applications in waiting' for 5 kids, none of which are qualified for admission - and there are only two spaces. The kids who qualify first will get the spaces, the other 3 will miss out. It's crap, but it's fair.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:56

I think there are plenty of spaces...would that make a difference?

OP posts:
Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:57

Do you mean kids that may want to transfer to the school when moving to the village?

OP posts:
Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:57

I hope you got your place for your DC!

OP posts:
carbolicsoaprocked · 30/04/2015 21:58

As long as you're sure you will be moving there, I would at least try to get him into the school in the village you're planning to move to. A 7 minute drive is not a lot, and I really wouldn't want my DC to have to move schools if it could be avoided.

ImNameyChangey · 30/04/2015 21:58

How easy is it to get property in the village? I'd be tempted to send him there in your shoes. It's not strange..or random as you want to live there....it's forward planning.

WorraLiberty · 30/04/2015 21:58

I think exLtEveDallasNoBollocks is probably right with regards to them not accepting your DC, but it's worth a try as these things often differ from area to area.

How far is the school from where you live now? Would you have trouble getting him there and back before the move?

ImNameyChangey · 30/04/2015 21:59

They won't refuse him a place if there are some free! They don't save places for "catchment kids"

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 21:59

No not at all - as I say, it's about a seven min drive door to school door.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 30/04/2015 22:00

I'd be tempted to send him there in your shoes

No really, I think a well fitted pair of school shoes would be more appropriate...

Grin
Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 22:00

The school didn't mention the having to live in catchment thing when discussing but the application would have to go through the local authority.

OP posts:
exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 30/04/2015 22:06

Well it must differ across LAs then, because I had to show proof of address to the County Council to get DD in the village school, and they wouldn't accept the application until exchange day (knowing we weren't actually moving in for another 2 months).

OP is it a CE school? That can make a difference do (if it's VA or VC) as to whether they can restrict places - for eg they can have 25 starting in Sep and still be 'full'.

You really need to speak to both the school and the LA before trying to make a decision. There is no point stewing on this and worrying yourself to distraction if you don't know how it works in your LA.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 22:09

Okay...

Presuming we could get him in. I have spoken to the school and no issue was mentioned. I could obviously have totally gotten the wrong end of the stick (!). I think there are more than just a few places left.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 30/04/2015 22:15

Presuming you could get them in I think it's a good idea.

If it's only a 7 minute drive, then it's still local so he'll get the best of both worlds until you can move.

Even if you didn't end up moving, it's still not far from where he lives now.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 22:19

True!

I think the problem we have is that he's gone to the school nursery at his catchment and he's familiar with staff and the kids who'll be going there.

Me and DH are agonising about it.

Also though...if he does start at catchment that 'problem' is going to only intensify and be more of a wrench as time goes on.

Such a big and hard decision and one we're really grappling with.

OP posts:
ImNameyChangey · 30/04/2015 22:27

Don't agonise. My DC both go to a small village primary that's about the same distance as yours from where we live. There are two other, more local schools which we chose not to go to...it's fine! There are children living near us who go to the village school too!

WorraLiberty · 30/04/2015 23:03

I think you're right about the wrench intensifying.

I get that he's familiar with the staff and kids but you'd be amazed at how quickly they forget.

None of my 3 kids can remember their first day at the nursery attached to their Primary school. I think they completely forgot a couple of years later.

Plus the reception class was a large mix of kids they recognised and kids they didn't...because they'd either attended a different nursery session or they were brand new to the school.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 23:10

Thank you Worra.

This is useful info!

It feel like a wrench now. I don't think I could manage it a year in.

OP posts:
Icimoi · 30/04/2015 23:13

If they've got spaces they have to give them to anyone applying - by law they can't keep them empty in the vague expectation that someone who lives closer might turn up and want a space.

If you're definitely moving to that village, I'd go for the school there. Worra is right, children do forget very quickly - and if your ds didn't move, the chances are that he wouldn't continue to be friends with the children he knew in nursery but would make new friendships.

Original poster
schooldilemma81 · 30/04/2015 23:19

Thank you!

OP posts:
ImNameyChangey · 30/04/2015 23:19

That's right Icimoi OP even if it takes a year to get the right house in the village, your DS will already have local friends. It's a no-brainer to me. You should definitely send him there.

Are your doubts because you fear you won't get a house in the village?

twirlypoo · 30/04/2015 23:22

I've just put ds into a nursery attached to the school I want him to go to, which is a 20 mins drive away. I'm moving there as soon as I can find a bloody house I can afford soon, and I didn't want to move him then move him again.

The head teacher spoke with me today about how we would be an out of county application, which was more paperwork but not a problem at all and so long as there was spaces then it wasn't going to be an issue.

In your shoes (worra that did make me Grin) I'd definitely send your ds there!