Move house for a *slightly* better school - are we mad?

[ducdo]

We have 3 children, aged 9, 7 and 3. Live in a nice (smallish) house, cam walk to primary school, kids friends nearby and walking distance to our nearest High School

DH believes house prices are going to drop over next yr or so and keen to sell up, move into rented (whilst getting eldest into slighly better high school when we apply next yr) and hoping housing market works in our favour.

Whilst I like the thought of getting a better house, worried its too big a risk to take with 3 kids. Should we just stay put, am I being too greedy wanting bigger house / better school, will we regret moving from our 'safe/ no hassle life' here.

Means DS not going to same high school as his 2 best mates ... is that a big deal ... loads of other kids from his junior school will be going, just not his best mates. he will make new friends afterall .. feels like such a big gamble to take and not sure I've got the guts?!?!?!?

It does sound like a big risk, but if you'd get a better school and a bigger house it sounds like something worth doing, and you're defiantly not greedy for thinking about it. I know nothing about house prices / housing market but I'm sure someone more helpful will be along soon.
On the schools front though...
Would you change the primary school your dcs are at? If so, what is the other primary like and how well do you think they'd cope with the change? If not, will moving make it difficult for dc 2 and 3 to get in to the same primary as dc1? Would different primaries for a year or so be a big problem? How would you deal with things like play dates all being on the other side of town?
Have you been to see the secondary schools yet? Are you certain like the other school more? If so, why? Write a list of what you like / don't like about each school. A lot can change in a couple of years remember. Ask both schools about any plans to change the headteacher in the next couple of years etc. They might not be able to tell you that, but they will be able to tell you what their plans for the future are. Also worth thinking about, are the things you're looking for in a secondary school going to be the same for all of your dc? (obviously difficult to tell atm.) What are your chances of getting in to the other secondary if you stay at the current house?

When we started our family we moved away from a life we were very happy with, but where the schools left a bit to be desired and the area wasn't 'the best' and 'came home' to where we grew up, so that our dcs would have the chance of a better education - not the only reason, but a huge influencing factor.

We have been through a lot to get and stay in the house we are in (we went from our own home to rented as well - no way we could afford to buy around here) as its in a good area with 'good schools' and also in the catchment of the best secondary school in the borough.

All went well at first and our ds1 was fine at the local school for a couple of years, but then a new Head took over and it has all been downhill from there. The school has taken a huge nosedive and despite still having good achievement, is not a nice place for our dses to be. Ds1 has been horribly bullied and having found out recently that he has some SEN the school has been anything but supportive. All the other local schools are oversubscribed so there is no hope of moving them either.

Dh and I have never been happy living here and would love to move away, but for various reasons this isn't possible now.

I would say, if you are happy have a nice life and your dcs enjoy and are doing well at school, then why rock the boat.

we would literally be moving up the road, so still keeping same primary schools for younger ones.

appreciate it seems like a big gamble to take that is not guaranteed, but also thinking if it means we can get into a slightly bigger house, clear some debts and get into slightly better school .. then it's worth doing .... ??!?!?!?! maybe I'm wrong ??!?!?!?

I hate to sound pessimistic, but if the school you speak of is only slightly better, I'd be undecided too. A different matter of course if you were moving from the catchment of a sink estate school to a far better one.

How well do you know both schools and what makes you feel that one is better? I ask as I moved for reasons unconnected with schooling a couple of years ago but of course my DCs education was high on my list of priorities when choosing my new house. I opted to return to the catchment area of the school DD1 had attended prior to our move, which she'd done well in and been happy in for a few months and which has an excellent Ofsted.

It was a huge mistake. It was fine for DD1 but DD2 was bullied, no-one was listening to her and she was terribly miserable.

All I can say is that "better" does not always equal "right for your child" and if I knew that my DC were going to get a good education at the local school and be happy, with friends for support, I'd be loathe to move purely for the sake of a slightly better Ofsted or exam result record.

Perhaps this isn't how your two local school compare but if it is, it may be worth thinking about in these terms.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

Work out how much it will cost to move; factor in solicitors, estate agents, movers, surveys, wasted rent, stamp duty. This could easily cost upwards of £20k (it cost £50k for us!) so wipe out any gain....

You could be stuffed if house prices go up as you will have wasted money in rent and be able to afford something smaller rather than bigger than you currently have - unless the idea is to rent indefintely, so getting back on the property ladder doesn't matter...?

I wouldn't do it myself - think the risks and other costs wipe out any advantage.