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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To move DC from an 'Outstanding' rates school to a school in' special measures'

77 replies

NotAnotherUserName5 · 01/06/2017 17:40

I'm torn. We are all set to move back to our home town. Beautiful part of the world, family support around us for the first time, and we can afford to buy a house there. We would definitely have much more disposable income too.

Currently live in a very affluent part of the country, and with that comes fabulous schools.

Eldest dc is due to start high school in September, and would be going to an Outstanding rated school. It's very sought after and well regarded.

We don't like it around here, and house prices keep on climbing (currently rent). We simply cannot afford to live here even if we wanted.

The only negative about moving, is the school my DC would go too. It's currently in Special Measures but a plan for transformation is underway next year or so.

I feel so bad at the prospect of taking my DC away from something good to something that really doesn't sound great, although so many other positives for us as a family with this move.

AIBU to move? I suppose this is a more wwyd?

OP posts:
MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 01/06/2017 17:42

I would not choose to move my child to a school in special measures. I would look at other areas nearby.

notanevilstepmother · 01/06/2017 17:43

If it's in special measures now, it will probably get better. Have a chat with the headteacher and ask what they are doing to improve, are they properly staffed for September or will it be all supply teachers. See what you think.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 01/06/2017 17:45

Surely it isn't the only school in the whole area?

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 01/06/2017 17:45

This is a risk I might take with a Reception aged child but I definitely wouldn't with a High School aged.

These are really critical years for them and all schools are sadly not created equal. Teens deserve to be facilitated to do their best.

mynotsoperfectlife · 01/06/2017 17:45

Not special measures, no.

TheWeaverONonStories · 01/06/2017 17:48

A high school near me wa in special measures two years ago. They just rated outstanding in a recent OFSTEAD. I think it would depend on the school, the plan and the alternatives.

Trifleorbust · 01/06/2017 17:49

Not what I want to say, but no, I wouldn't. I work at a school in special measures. On the surface things aren't so different to how they are in the other (good and outstanding) schools I have worked in, but three likely effects of benign in SM would stop me: the quality of staff you can recruit (not going to go up, probably going to go down), the turnover of staff (poorly qualified or less effective teachers struggle to manage workload and behaviour and then leave) and the demographic attending the school is likely to be less affluent (which shouldn't matter but does) and less motivated, as the parents don't mind sending their child to a school in SM and won't be pushing for a great educational experience for their children.

Trifleorbust · 01/06/2017 17:49

*being

BackforGood · 01/06/2017 17:52

The headline is slightly misleading though.
You are moving to a completely new area. You need to do that for all the reasons you've chosen to do that.
What you need to do, from that point, is then look at all realistic options as to where you might be able to get him into a school, that also meet all your other criteria about housing, near enough to family, costs, work, transport and all the other things you take into account when making a big move.
There was a school near us that was dire for years. Best thing that ever happened was it going in to special measure - it was the catalyst for MASSIVE change and is a very sought after school now, with people travelling past several others to go there.
You need to look at all possible options and talk to the school about the changes that are planned.

LorLorr2 · 01/06/2017 17:54

I agree that you should have a conversation with someone from the school who can tell you what measures are going to be put in place and what the plans are. If they don't feel good enough for you, aren't there other schools in the surrounding area? Perhaps a bus ride away?

LorLorr2 · 01/06/2017 17:55

Congrats on the move btw :-)

Leeds2 · 01/06/2017 18:00

I think it is the right time to move, so that your DS can start his new school along with all the other Year 7s.
I wouldn't however want to move my child to a school in special measures, and would probably consider moving somewhere close by, but with a different choice of schools.
Are you sure though that any of the schools actually have a place for him, given that school allocation has already taken place? Or is the school in special measures the only one on offer?

Original poster
NotAnotherUserName5 · 01/06/2017 18:01

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut

Quite rural, but there is another (better) high school 15/20 minutes away. I could try that, but then it creates. Logistical challenge with primary DC. Plus DH will use our one car for work!

Like I say, so many glowing positives for us to move, just this negative is a big one.

OP posts:
Dawnedlightly · 01/06/2017 18:02

It is a big negative. What are the results like?

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 01/06/2017 18:04

Even if special measures does turn this school around, this DC will be out the door by that time.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 01/06/2017 18:06

15/20 minutes?!

Your OP says you have more disposal income in the new place. Use it on a second small car.

This is a total no brainer. Absolutely drive 15/20 minutes. I bet you will be able to carpool with others.

froomeonthebroom · 01/06/2017 18:08

Why is it in special measures? Sometimes a safeguarding breach can lead to this rating, even if everything else is fine.

RandomMess · 01/06/2017 18:10

Really no school or local bus? DH can't drop him off nearby???

Trifleorbust · 01/06/2017 18:12

froomeonthebroom

It would have to be pretty serious/systemic, like no proper DBS checks or similar - not something I would be happy with.

Or, I would say more likely, it will be leadership, teaching or behaviour. One or more of those will be inadequate, or was on the day, and to go into SM will not have improved since the previous inspection.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 01/06/2017 18:17

DS's secondary school was put in special measures when he was in year 8 and has only just come out - he's now in year 12. There wasn't much choice locally because most of the other schools in the area were poor and so I took the gamble of keeping him there, which I do regret. He did ok in his exams but it was unsettling with teacher turnover, four heads in four years and the axing of loads of subjects. He chose to stay for post 16 purely because his friends were staying and the post 16 inspection had been quite promising, he is doing well and is happy. He did look at other sixth forms and FE colleges but none floated his boat.

It's a massive risk because you don't know how long it will take to improve.

TheWeaverOfNonStories · 01/06/2017 18:19

The school by me was just coming out two years ago btw. It depends how long they've been in, what changes have been made.

Are there other schools?

sysysysref · 01/06/2017 18:32

Not what I want to say, but no, I wouldn't. I work at a school in special measures. On the surface things aren't so different to how they are in the other (good and outstanding) schools I have worked in, but three likely effects of benign in SM would stop me: the quality of staff you can recruit (not going to go up, probably going to go down), the turnover of staff (poorly qualified or less effective teachers struggle to manage workload and behaviour and then leave) and the demographic attending the school is likely to be less affluent (which shouldn't matter but does) and less motivated, as the parents don't mind sending their child to a school in SM and won't be pushing for a great educational experience for their children.

This x100. I'd consider requires improvement if I felt that the leadership team were on the case but special measures or inadequate, not in a million years. Do not believe people that say "oh it might just be a blip in their paper work". If it's in special measures there are some pretty serious things wrong with it.

kaytee87 · 01/06/2017 18:35

Can you wait a year or two and see if the school improves before making a decision? Send him to the good school in the meantime.

PeteAndManu · 01/06/2017 18:41

Has the headteacher changed since the ofsted? Or were they new in post at the time? How long ago did it go into SM and what are the results like? Has it been reinspected? Agree with Trifleorbust but look at the recent history and any changes because they can be turned around but it often take a change in head to do so.

Flamingoprincess1212 · 01/06/2017 18:41

I think DC should go to the local school. If it's in Special Measures now it's likely going to be fantastic.
Is personal and emotional health will be better if their near the peer group and doesn't have to rely on parents or shitty public transport to socialise, they will be more independent.
Furthermore it makes logistical sense to send him there
You said you'd have more disposable income so if needs must you could use a tutor.

I wouldn't think twice.

All the best for your move. Flowers