I'm considering options for DC secondary school and wondering if it's reasonable to move specifically to get into the catchment area for a better school.
The feeder secondary school has had many ups and downs for the last 20 years (I went there so I know for sure) from bad ofsted to special measures to crap teachers (some of which are still there). I can count on 1 hand the amount of kids that went to uni after this school and yes I know life isn't all about uni but I want it to be an option for DC if that's what they choose.
Right now DC enjoys school, happy and eager to learn and does as expected and better so I'm really lucky with that. DC is confident and makes friends easily so Im not worried about that part if if but I know DC is. There's a school that we are just out of the catchment area but if we moved even 10 minutes drive away we would be in the catchment for it but the risk is if I move further this way I'm putting DC out of the catchment for other schools and effectively putting all my eggs in one basket.
DC wants to go where their friends are going to go and ultimately it may come down to respecting this but I really don't want to send them there. Not all of their friends will go to this school and I said this then DC said they wanted to go to whatever school so and so is going to. So right now I don't think I can take this as gospel. I've said when the time comes (have a couple of years) that we will go round to all the schools and see what they are like so DC can see what they think.
I really don't know what to do for the best, 11 is such a difficult age for so many reasons so I don't want to make things hard for DC but at the same time want to give them a chance to still do well and don't feel this school will facilitate this.
Aibu and should just calm down about it or should we consider the move?