choosing home over school or school over home?

[Maria2007loveshersleep]

Hi, here's a dilemma. We have a son who is 3, due to start reception sept.2012. We need to move asap and have found:

1. nice flat opposite a school which we has ofsted report 2 with outstanding features, and which we know from many local parents has a particularly good 'feel' to it
2. much nicer cottage in area we like more, opposite another school, which also has ofsted report 2 (with outstanding features) but which we've heard mixed or even negative comments from local parents. BUT headteacher has changed in 2008 & has worked very hard on improving school, which is clearly evident in 2009 ofsted report.

What would you do? Both places cost exactly the same by the way...

Second option

2

Both areas nice by the way, we just like the second area more... But we feel more secure with school number 1 as we've lived in that area for ages & hence have heard more reports for local school.

Don't go on other parents' views - they may have different judging criteria to you. Go and visit for yourselves.

I presume that you are comparing primary schools, but what about Secondary Schools? I know that a lot can change between now and Y7 but would the current repuatations of those Secondaries clinch it?

Otherwise, go for a garden instead of a flat.

What senua said. Go and look at the schools.

Number 2

Find out about which secondary schools you would be in catchment for in each area, much more important than primary schools in my experience! Good luck : )

Have you visited the schools??????

Thanks for all info. I've visited the one school (in our local area) which is lovely. The other one not yet, but I'll visit it this week. As for secondary schools, there are good ones apparently in both areas but in any case if we'll be moving to a flat / small cottage, hopefully in a couple of years we'll move again (well I say hopefully but it all feels super stressful!)

What I can say is that, in London, rental prices have gone sky high meaning that what we can get for our money now will be a 2 bed flat / 2 bed cottage, while just 3 years ago we could get 3 bed houses or even 4 bed houses in good condition. :( It's really a very very hard time for tenants, and it's very stressful when schools have to be taken into account too...

I don't know why people stay in London with small kids when there are great transport links for workers in the suburbs or in villages just outside the M25. Much better schools, safer environment and a bigger house and sometimes only a 20-30minute train journey per day. Even miles out of London such as Rugby, it's only 45mins into London and the area has grammar schools and large houses for the same price. I'm not suggesting you move that far out but I just don't get the need for little kids to be brought up in London if other areas of life are compromised such as housing.

colleger have to agree with you! just moved out of London and its the best thing we've done! We love the clean streets, no police sirens and politeness! Oh, and our rent and all bills are less than our rent alone in London! I only wish we'd taken the plunge sooner!

To be honest though, people will have a million different reasons to stay in London (or anywhere, for that matter). You can't generalise! I know in our case it would simply be impossible to move out of London for a lot of reasons that have to do with work & requirements around work that mean we need to be available on a flexible basis in our local area. I have to say, we would find it very hard to even move to another area of London, let alone out of London.

Another thing to keep in mind: lots of people love London (again, for various reasons). Specifically in my case, I moved to London many years ago, from another country, as a very conscious choice to live in this particular feeling. And my love for London has never changed. I would hate moving out of London. I also think London has a lot to offer to young kids.

But I certainly do take your point that cost of living in London is very very high, and getting worse now during the recession, particularly for renters.

oops!! I meant 'to live in this particular city'. Why did I write 'this particular feeling'.... Nice Freudian slip there :) But I guess I do love the feeling of living in London, as I said this has never changed...

In the end, by the way, for those who have followed this thread, we chose the flat over the cottage and the school we feel more comfortable with (and have more knowledge about) over the unknown school. Felt a safer choice, and at least we do like the particular flat a lot... and there's loads of green space right at our doorstep so it shouldn't' be too bad hopefully.

Good for you in making a decision.
And good for you defending my town!
People always underestimate the real length of a commute and personally being able to spend that extra time with my kids outweighs the clean streets and the grammar schools that my kids may get into (and the sense of failure and stress if they don't)

ultimately you need to follow your instinct - which would you regret more not doing? but if secondaries are equal I'm with the go for the garden choice..