To move our family from a beautiful detached 4 bed to 3 bed semi for a better school catchment?

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Family of 5 here. We live in a large detached house, with a big garden. Rural. The only issue is that schools are not good in our area. We’re in a 3 tier system; the primary is outstanding, but the middle is very poor (and has been for a long time) and the high school is average.

Our original plan was to go private but we simply can’t do that now. We’ve got 3DC and our local very good indie has just announced a 10% fee increase. With the CofL what it is now, it’s out of reach.

I’ve been looking at an area 40 mins away from us with an outstanding secondary school and a good primary. House prices are much higher and realistically we’d be looking at a 3 bed semi (going to look at one tomorrow to get a feel).

Has anyone done this and would I be crazy to even consider it? Our DDs would have to share a bedroom (they are 5 years apart). However, we may be able to go a bit bigger in 5-7 years.

The area we’d be moving into is an area of outstanding beauty; there would be lots of outdoor space for kids, but our own garden would be much, much smaller.

I would move the education in a good school is more important than a larger house with a lesser school.You are paying for a smaller house in a better area.Try and find a property with the possibility to extend later.Children when young are happy sharing and a few years down the line you could extend or move.Good luck.

Are your children happy where they are? The sharing rooms with the age gap, and starting over with new friends, could impact them more than you think. It isn't only about the quality of the school.

Because a lot of people overlook space then they suddenly have teenagers all on top of each other and drama happens. Plus winter in a tiny house and god forbid something like covid happens again.

If you have the money you can buy in help and tutoring.

A tiny yet expensive house doesn’t leave wiggle room for say a below average child to get extra help in a posher area.

I would always prioritise a good school with sixthform. We moved to grammar location, more expensive housing but absolutely worth it. Such a hard decision, but an area of outstanding beauty sounds lovely and when you have funds you can extend loft or build a garden room for teens to hangout.

I intend to move for school catchment in a few years. The secondary schools near me are dire and I don’t want my own kids to have the same terrible experience I had. I know first hand how a bad school experience affects your entire life. I still feel afraid of people who are dressed like my abusers, and I have a panic attack if I hear a sound like the alarm which used to wake me up for school.

Similar to you, we’ll be giving up a 4 bed with garden to move into a 3 bed semi. It’ll mean a 30 minute drive back to the primary school every day for the final year, so we’re in catchment to apply to secondary at the right time. As soon as both kids are established in the school we’ll probably move again, out of catchment to a bigger house.

Family of 5 in a 3 bed semi? No I wouldn't do that. If the high school was bad maybe, but it's average and it's just the one school that's problematic, which I am sure you can make up for with tutoring etc if necessary. I would either move for the house AND the schools (as we did) or I would stay put in a comfortable house and invest where the school misses out on; extra curriculars etc. Don't underestimate the importance of a comfortable home for wellbeing etc, not to mention the upheaval on kids to move.

We are in the UK. Some areas still have a 3 tier system. First school ages 5-8, middle school ages 8-12, then high school 12-16.

I don’t think it’s that common anymore, but it’s the situation where we live. Our middle school is poor but we’re not in catchment for any of the full primary schools, which take them up to high school age. It’s a big issue here.

OP, you say you're a teacher, and I am too. I think most parents who aren't teachers don't get the situation in education right now. You can see it on a lot of the threads about teacher strikes too.

Academy conversion won't magically turn around a long term failing school, and in some cases can make things worse (staff turnover, etc). Schools can change a lot, quickly, in terms of getting worse, but it's getting harder and harder to improve schools with issues because it's hard to attract staff.

If you know the other school, and know it's a lot better, I would move.

If there's 5 years between your daughters, then likely the eldest will be at uni by the time the younger one is a teen? Or look for somewhere with potential to extend?

When were the last inspections?

Around as in at the same school @WildAloofRebel

"The outstanding school in comparison is in a very affluent area, where parents are very invested in their kids’ education and has a Sixth Form"

OP, you and I as teachers both know that it is your first point - about the affluent area in which parents are very invested in their kids' education - which is the key factor in a school being designated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. Ofsted have admitted more than once that schools in less affluent areas will rarely get 'Outstanding' purely because of the disadvantages suffered by children in comparison.

I was one such disadvantaged child - I had to share a room with a much younger sibling until I was 16 and consequently had nowhere quiet to work - and the impact on my O level results was obvious. I got my own room just after starting L6th and my A levels were stellar. I can honestly say that having my own space to work in was extremely important in my A level success and - obviously - what happened to me thereafter.

My nieces went to a school that plummeted from 'Outstanding' to 'Inadequate' whilst they were there. The younger one took herself out to another one for A levels and interestingly - despite getting very good GCSEs - she has received better offers from all the (RG) universities to which she has applied purely because she went to a school in a category for GCSEs!

I think this is part of the issue for middle schools as well- they're uncommon, so heads/leadership teams/teachers don't know how to improve them, and they can be hard to recruit for.

If you're going to move, make sure you're 100% sure you'll get a place at the outstanding school if the catchment shrinks a bit.

We were looking to pay 30% more for a smaller house at the other end of our village because it was nearer a better school, but got gazumped and couldn't afford to match. Really glad we didn't spend the money now, because in last years admissions we wouldn't have got a place despite it being by far the closest school and being in catchment for previous years

What is the high school like? That is much more important than what the middle school is like IMO. When children are doing KS4 is the most important time. If that is a good school then I would stay where you are if my kids wanted to go to that school and have a bigger house. What do your children think? I let my child decide which senior school to go to, we looked at 4 , it is them that will need to go there and travel there so you should let them decide based on their own personalities and academic ability. I would look around the options and let them get a feel for it. Also speak to parents whose children go there not go by ofstead.

We chose a 2 bed near an excellent school vs a 3 bed near a less good school. We’re hoping to extend into the loft before elders goes to high school but fortunately for us the previous owners also had 2 kids and put up a semi dividing wall in the biggest bedroom so both kids have their own private space (though not huge!) Could he an option for you? But yes I would prioritise schooling and look at extension options in a few years

This. You'd be Nuts to move.

I'm really on the fence here. As a child half your life is school and the other half home, so which do you prioritise?

I think the best compromise is to stay where you are and counteract the poor teaching at middle school with home learning and extra tutoring.

BUT if the problem with the middle school extends to rampant bullying, that would be a definite no no.

Can you rent out your house now, move now into rented accommodation in your new area (quite frankly you often get more rented for your money) and then move back once eldest child is in school and you have the 40 minute commute? You'd need to do it sooner I suppose to evidence the fact you are making a permanent cough move for more rural living.

That is, of course, only on the basis that siblings rank higher than other pupils in catchment (they do at some of our local schools, not others).

Otherwise, if the issue is the middle school for two years, I'd probably sit tight with tutoring and go to a good high school.

Look for a middle ground OP . Look for an OFSTED ‘ good’ school with exam results above the National Average and supplement with tutoring if necessary and see if that improves the housing options.

I think siblings benefit from having space away from one another even if bedrooms are small or subdivided .

Ive been very happy with our local ‘good’ schools . There are many in our village spending out on school fees as our local school isn’t outstanding

We were in a similar situation a few years ago. I really-really suggest you rent something for a few years and rent our your original house.
We only have two children and I hate the feel of our current house in the lovely area. My kids love their school, they made friends and are not bullied here (my eldest was in middle school). But they also miss their nice bedrooms.

Any chance of getting a job at the independent as you’re a teacher?

reduced school fees!

YANBU.

I'd sacrifice a bedroom and garden space for better schooling. Most of the population survive in semi's just fine.

I would move house to stop my children having to attend a school that requires improvement, definitely.

Whether you buy somewhere or whether you are able to rent strategically I would see these as the only 2 choices, personally.

I wouldn’t change my home and life for a few years at school. I don’t think it makes an awful lot of difference they’ll do well if they work hard and have the capability to exceed in some areas they will.

I'd move for better schools and less space. Look for how you may extend.