Being stubborn to buy in a particular catchment area (within 2 months!)

[Jedimum1]

Sorry if this is all very obvious to you, but I'm really confused and would like some advice. I'm being a bi stubborn on getting into the catchment area of one school, my friend says I'm blinded by Ofsted reports, my DH is as confused as me but more flexible, a colleague at work who sends his kid to that school says it's worth the trouble... We went to see this school and it looked amazing, although a bit big, which concerned us a bit. I do think, however, than anything would concern me because I'm not ready to send her to school.

The schools in our area are not good and we have decided to move. We've already sold our property.

We are looking at an area where there are a few good and outstanding primary schools, an outstanding grammar and a good/outstanding secondary. Two of the outstanding primary schools are religious and although we are all baptised, we don't really go to church, so I feel it wouldn't be right to send her there when we cannot support at home the religious aspect of it. Their catchment area is quite big. The other outstanding primary is non-religious but has a tiny catchment area.

We are looking to buy, but the catchment areas are exclusive, if I move into one, I miss the other one, the limits are one street. We are having a hard time to decide because there are only a couple of houses in the catchment area and more expensive. The other non-religious school is Ofsted good and is exactly the area that this other school doesn't cover. My DH knows people through work who sent their kids there and say it's good.

I'm pushing to buy in the catchment area of the outstanding one but there are only two houses in the market, which are overpriced and have been there for a good month now (houses in this area tend to sell on opening day). If I buy outside this catchment area, there are more houses and cheaper.

So question:
Should I be stubborn and buy in the tiny but expensive catchment area of this non-religious outstanding primary?
Should I buy in the limits, theoretically outside the catchment area but obviously still close by straight line? This would put us in the catchment area of other schools, but housing is slightly cheaper and we could get more house for the same price.
What are the chances of the school oversubscribing with only kids of the catchment area and not going to the "distance" recruitment? The SchoolGuide website shows last year the kids that went there were also from within 0.2-0.3 miles outside catchment limits... but then these could also be foster children or siblings.
Am I being too stubborn on getting into this particular school? Does it really matter? Is there that much of a difference? This school is big, they get 70 students per year. The catchment area is about 5-7 streets to either side, so quite small.

I'm also assuming that if we buy in this particular catchment area, the house will always have that extra value to it (unless school turns to worse, but it has been outstanding for as long as I can see).

A friend of mine says I'm being blinded by Ofsted reports and that a good school is as good as an outstanding. She has not got or had kids in primary, though. She knows people who sent their kids to a nearby school and are happy, but the report tells me there are gaps and teachers need to improve teaching and attend to all students. Am I being unreasonable by not considering other schools? These other schools are smaller.

My DD is very outgoing once she gets to know the people, but she goes shy and a bit scared when she encounters a new environment. Obviously, no matter the school, she will have this problem. The outstanding school is big but have great facilities, great division of the space and the report says that it has excellent pastoral care and all children feel involved and are attended. The smaller school is half the size, I am assuming she'll have more 1:1 time... or is this not true because all schools are in a 30:1 ratio?

Sorry, long post... I'm completely ignorant in this, no matter how much I read, all these data and statistics only confuse me more.

AIBU by only considering houses in that tiny area? Let's say that usually the market for this is about one house for sale a month.

AIBU by believing the Ofsted report as a divine truth? For the three schools we have in mind, they are from 2013 (outs) and 2016 (good x 2)

Would it be an option to move into your preferred catchment area first (while the application has to be made) and then look for a house to buy without being pressured to settle for a less than perfect place because of the time line?

For what I read, there is an assumption that the details I give are right at the time of application. I need to fill a form online. Just before they allocate places, if they have any doubt, they will contact me to submit further proof of address. They do say indeed that I need to have exchanged contracts and proof "disposal" of my old address. I am hoping I can move things quickly, if not by the application deadline, by the time I have to submit proof.

If I were to rent, I would have to rent for 12 months, according to the admissions website.

After reading all your replies, I think I feel better about going to other schools in that area. There are a few houses we were dismissing because they were not in the "ideal catchment area" for that specific outstanding school, but if I relax myself about having to go to that school, I could put an offer in one of those houses. It might not be soon enough for the application, but that would still leave me with the late applications, the appeal procedure, the in-year application and at worst I keep my DD in nursery until she's 5 and apply next year. Argh... this is so difficult!! I keep looking at DD and getting my stomach upside down, thinking she is not ready and will feel lonely in an strange environment :( She would have the same issue if we were to stay here, though. About six to seven of her closest friends have moved or are in the process of moving, exactly for the same reasons. :(

FWIW if you like the house and like the school then go for it. We did it, 4 weeks between exchange and completion, accepted the house warts and all, slight it overpaid on the valuation but we had funds to cover it. It was a good move. When we moved away with work the house was easy to rent and then easy to sell to people who also wanted to be in catchment for the schoolm

You need to look round the schools first and go with your gut.

The school that was most impressive on paper was probably mine and DH's least favourite, but other friends absolutely loved it. It's such a personal thing and you know what would suit your child.

I wanted to see happy teachers and pupils, evidence of a rounded education and lots of extra curricular activities, a warm feel, excellent pastoral care, opportunities for those doing worse or better than average to succeed to the best of their ability, and good outdoor space. Other friends were focused on the curriculum, arts, technology, results and facilities.

What do you want from a school?

I would suggest not holding out to spend more. My child goes to the best primary in our town and people try hard to get their children into his school. From my experience each year a place becomes available and people join.
Not ideal but if there is a significant amount to be saved by not living in the catchment area then I wouldn't.
At some point a space will become available for your child at that school catchment area or not.

X

Do not just go on a report, you must visit to get a feel of the school. An outstanding school can lose its status in 24 hours so there's absolutely no guarantee that it'll still be outstanding when your child starts.

As for applications, they will only use your actual, confirmed address. They are unlikely to go on an address you are no ing to, as sales can fall through so easily.

You set too much store by Ofsted IMO

Some schools are just very good at the "ofsted game"

FWIW, I am in the catchment of an "outstanding" and a "good" school and the one that is only "good" has much better pastoral care and informal atmosphere. Much nicer for DS!

Talk to the HTs and visit the schools, and form your own opinion.

Ofsted don't rate the same things I rate.

My children have been in four different primary schools, and you know what, they are much of a muchness. They all teach the same curriculum (the national curriculum), they all have bullying policies, they all do clubs etc. I'd avoid a school that had a very poor reputation locally or one where the intake is really not mixed (slap bang in middle of rough estate, for example), but other than that they are all very similar and it can depend on things like if your child makes nice friends (not something you can know from outside) or if the teacher is good (again something you can't control).

Mine are currently in a 'good' school, it's huge which might put some people off but mine have loved it and in my eyes it is 'outstanding' as the teachers really care about the children.

I'd also look at 'value added' because your 'outstanding' school is clearly in a wealthy area compared with other local schools given the catchment house price, so that means a lot of the children coming in will have had additional enrichment already, in other words, they are coming in with a higher level of language skills than in some other schools- the question is more what does the school do next?

Don't get hung up on this stuff, find a 'good enough' area and a lovely house, and have some faith, your dd will be fine at school!

Good post Bountybars. OP I'd also encourage younot to be put off by bigger schools. It is tempting when you have a wee 3 or 4 year old to feel they can only cope with a small school, but a bigger one gives them a much bigger pool from which to find like minded friends and the staff between them will have vast amounts of experience.

Outstanding in 2013 doesn't tell you how it is now. It's easy for schools to relax a little after an Outstanding result and let things slip. Meanwhile, the gap between Good and Outstanding can depend on something as random as two or three kids being ill during SATs.

Yes, you are being unreasonable to believe that Outstanding will always be better for your child than Good.

You cannot go off an ofsted report!
You need to visit the actual schools, though if you haven't done that yet, how serious are you about education anyway?
If you're happy to take whatever school is allocated, and work to make that a success, choose which house you want. If you want a specific school, you need to be in catchment, location is more important.
It really sounds like it's too late though, I'm very sorry. I don't know how busy your authority is, and whether a late application will be a problem. I think you need to ring your admissions dept and see what they say you can safely apply for.

You need to look around the schools, think of the ofsted report as a snapshot in time, it can only tell you so much. Also with older inspections I believe the results were a factor in becoming outstanding, new measures are on how much progress a child makes. If the schools focus is on results only, then your child may or may not thrive depending on their ability and personality. Are they sporty, into drama? our school offers a lot of clubs, the HT loves sport and drama, each half term there is a sharing assembly. There is an active PTA, they have Forest schools, wrap around care etc. this still doesn't tell you what is best for your child, you still have to get a feel for the school.
I definitely wouldn't discount 'good' schools.
But I agree with others, you've left it far too late. The school open days are probably finished now (you can book in to look around still) and you need to provide a letter from your solicitor with the date of completion or something. You have to apply with your current address. If you're going to apply late, then you have to take what you're given. Have you checked the application information, it tells you exactly what the situation is with regards to moving house and late applications.

Thank you all again. I have now booked the visits at all nearby schools in that area. I'm more confident at sending DD at another school. We might be putting an offer this week, which maybe (just maybe) makes the cut with the deadline. If not, I can apply with the late admissions in April or for next year, as my DD is just 4 this month. I'm very grateful for your replies, it really changes perspective when you hear other people's experiences. Thanks.