To not want to move DS out of the school

[Blarblarblar]

We moved in to what is considered a less desirable part of town 3 years ago. You know the sort of place people say "oooooo blatown is that not really rough".
My son attends the local primary attended the nursery attached previously and goes to after school care there (DH and I work full time).He knows all the kids in the school, all the staff know him.
We are looking to buy a bigger house (new baby lots of visitors) and had been looking in different areas "good areas" but now I'm not sure.
DS is about to start p2 he is thriving, has lots of friends, doing great in school (very gregarious ott kid) they handle him firmly but fairly, I like the other mums in the school (not friends but nice people) yes there are one or two I would definitely not approach to discuss our kids ( there have been run ins). Things I find difficult are that a lot of kids in his class are all 5/6 and they just wander the streets on there own. My concern is if his peer influences are doing that at 5/6 what is no one caring they are doing at 16. Apart from that I feel a great sense of community in area.
Seems all external influences think we should move him out of the school but I like the new head and the people I've met. Does it matter? AIBU to not move him to the "best" school possible.

I would say it may become more of an issue as he gets older. I would move him, sorry.

If your in Northern Ireland i wouldn't worry too much as when they leave primary kids seem to go to many different high schools/grammer/colleges. Could you move but he still attends same primary?

The older kids wander a lot my husband has broken up a couple little tussles in the front garden.
I was planning on moving to a near by area but keep him in the primary. The catchment for the local High is pretty varied.

Not in NI

I have friends brought up in the area and they are particularly pushing a school move and I think that's why I'm really swaying.

I think the biggest issue if would you want him to go to the 'old' local secondary? If the answer is no them move him sooner rather than later.

Thank you for your responses it's like my internal conversation written down
The high is not great but it is next on the councils list for a regeneration. The council has worked its way round the schools in the city.

I think at this age I would move him to the closest school to your new house assuming the new catchment school is OK. I think for convenience and friendship issues, being in a very local school is always preferable. And at 6 he will make new friends quickly (it would be different if he were 9/10 and in his final couple of years of primary school.

For me the type of area/ intake is irrelevant as long as the school is doing a good job.

The house I'm looking at is close enough to stay at the primary although not in the catchment it is walking distance.

I'm not in the UK so not sure how it works... is there a time limit for your decision? If not, it might be better to set this aside for now, until you've moved house and settled in. When you're all used to that change, perhaps you can then begin to think about whether moving schools is a good idea.

I would move him but then I have to really fight against my inner snob - you sound much more open minded and nice!

I agree with a PP. make the move and keep him at the school in the meantime. Rethink a school move once you are settled. My worry would be that as a "very gregarious ott kid" who is well understood and well managed in his current school he may have difficulty being understood or fitting in elsewhere.

I'm assuming you're in Scotland. I would move him. I have a number of friends who are teachers who say that the difference between schools in areas like you've described can be staggering. P2 is a perfect time to move him as well, he has friends but has not formed any really deep bonds, he will make friends within days at a new school.

I don't want to give away to much personal away but my education was very priveledged and very unhappy. Before secondary I moved A LOT and never fitted in. I see him with the security of knowing everyone and being known by parents, kids, teachers and I feel good about that.
I just want my child to be happy And I'm not sure the "best" school means that for him. However I think I could be letting my experiences cloud my choices and that also worries me.
Also as Eva mentioned I worry about his nature being handled badly elsewhere it took them a while to work out how to play him in nursery and school and we had to work with them to help him settle.

I am in Scotland twinkle how did you know?
I'm now nervously checking my garden

It's because you said P2, Blarblar - in England we say Year 2 (or Year 1 I think it would be).

Nobody can see you!

Thank god cause im in my pjs not even matching pjs

because I'm watching you through the hedges, what manic said.

Well get your soggy arse in then I'll make some eggs
I'm more conflicted than when I posted this morning. Just don't know what to do.

Just remember at that age they adapt so easily. If he was to move then he would have new friends within days.

If you're moving anyway, then I would move and sort out the school situation when you're settled.

My foster children are hopefully going to start our local primary in September. It's in an area that most residents of our city wouldn't choose to live in (we're right on the edge) but the school seems lovely and caring and they offer all sorts of courses and things for the parents to get involved in which I'm looking forward to. There is a more 'middle class' school that we could get to but my children are quite behind their peers, and sometimes have difficulty making and keeping friends, so I think that school, with its emphasis on academics, won't be the right fit for them. I definitely want a more nurturing environment.

Thanks for your replies. I am moving but I could stay around this area or move entirely.
I would like him to move on to secondary with friends made in primary. Some comments have seemed to say that the secondary choice would be most important?