Okay, first time posting in AIBU, so go easy on me I didn't know whether this was better going in Education, or a topic about moving house, or here...
Bit of background, DP and I have had the house up for sale for 18 months. We are desperate to move nearer to work because the commute is a total PITA. We finally have a buyer and so we have cranked up the house hunting. We want this move to be quite a long term thing, make it our home and not have to think about moving for a long time! In fact, we really really don't want to have to move again for at least 10 years! We have a DS who is now 7 months old, and we want this to be the house he grows up in. We think we have narrowed the search down to two houses. Both houses are really nice- House number one is on a cul-de-sac, somewhere I can imagine DS and possible future DCs playing out in the street. Its near to shops and other amenities (sp?!), I really like it. House number two is on a main road, but still a really nice house, and has the same access to facilites and the like. However, I couldn't let DC play out at the front of the house, and we have a little CKC Spaniel, and I would be pretrified everytime the front door opened in case she got out (she is very fast!). However, the main difference between the two is that house one is outside the catchment area for my prefered primary and secondary school for DS (and future DCs), whereas house two is right in the middle of the catchment area.
So am I being unreasonable to consider living in a house when I am not totally happy with the location from and day to day living perspective because it is in the catchment for the schools? Its not the worst location in the world, but I definetly prefer house one. The primary school that DS would have to go if we went to house one recently improved their Ofsted report, from a 4 to a 3 and the secondary school is equally bad, being threatened with closure, notoriously bad. AIBU to be even considering catchment areas when my DS is only 7 months old?! With the likely change is power coming up in the next election, is it likely this system will change anyway?? This house is somewhere we want to live for a long time, so moving again in 3-4 years time is not an option. I know that knowing DS will have the best chance at the better school will be a huge relief to me, and huge weight off my mind, but I don't know if I want to live in a house where I am worried about the dog getting out all the time, no-one can park outside of it, getting in and out of the drive will be a right pain, and DS won't have as much freedom. Argh, I just don't know what to do, I really don't. DP is equally stuck, although he is more of the opinion that if you are good enough, you will do well at whatever school you go to. I disagree, because I know how bad the secondary school (in particular) is. AIBU to be even considering the performance of a school now, when it could be completely different in 3, 4, 10 years time?!
Please help me, I have been turning this over in my head for weeks now, and if I don't make my mind up soon, both houses will end up getting sold before we get chance to buy them!