Has anyone moved from a house they love to be near a better school?

[sheeplikessleep]

We live in Hampshire, a village, which is lovely and we are settled.

Local primary is OK. TBH, they had a new Head start 18 months ago, but pretty average results and satisfactory ofsted (local kids are all well behaved, step off the pavement when you walk by for example). It is probably one of those affectionately termed 'coaster' schools. Doing OK, but could probably do better, teaching wise.

We've been around the school (DS1 starts in September) and it seems fine, the kids appear happy and the Head certainly sounds impressive. Last year KS1 - KS2 sats were 69%. I'm guessing these are OK results, but seeing other friends with kids at schools achieving in the 80's and outstanding Ofsted schools, I'm questioning whether we are doing the right thing by staying.

I just wondered if others had been in OK areas and stayed or moved? Is is better to stay in an OK school or to sacrifice area for a better school? Any thoughts or experiences appreciated. Thanks

Meant to write, Hampshire, in a village.

I think for primary you'll be completely fine where you are. We moved for schools from a part of London we really loved to one I am still learning to love (!) a decade later; tbh I have often wished we'd stayed where we were despite the fantastic schools. For us it was more about what happened at secondary level - always a huge issue in London - that influenced the move; we just did it very early. I think if we'd waited we might have made a more considered decision closer to secondary age. And don't forget SATs results are only part of the picture and are in many schools are distorted by private tutoring for independent schools - an awful lot of that goes on at our 'outstanding' primary.

Thanks for posting ogredownstairs. I'm trying to get to grips with it all really. I'm struggling working through why a 'nice' and desirable area (as we get told) doesn't do better, iyswim. There are other areas near us where we could get a cheaper house, near an outstanding school. But visiting those areas, it just doesn't feel as 'safe' or as nice an area.

We could afford tutoring at a later point. The secondaries are all outstanding in the area where we live at the moment, so I do keep thinking, long term that is more important. I'm sure when DS1 has started school, my concerns will be gone, but that nagging doubt keeps on at me now. DH thinks I'm worrying about nothing, we live in a decent area, lots of outside space nearby etc and that Ofsted / SATs etc aren't the be all and end all.

Thanks for posting

Yes - I agree with your DH - other factors are so much more important for a happy family life. And if the secondaries are all outstanding then where you are already sounds pretty future -proof. (Ironically we are now tutoring for independent secondary, having made our move with state secondaries in mind!)

Thanks for posting ogredownstairs - hope the move to independent goes well! Funny how it all turns out really.

You are settled and happy in a lovely village. The local school is pleasant with no behaviour issues and the SATS results are fine. Secondaries are outstanding. I would stay and count my blessings!

SATS results are very easily distorted, and the other schools are not achieving so much more to make it worthwhile uprooting your lives.

Myself, I would only consider moving if the local school was so dire that the thought of sending them there filled me with creeping dread.

Thanks Carrots. Sometimes at home seeing the figures and reports in front of me, knowing very little about schools so far (very little need to do this whole comparison thing until now!), it is difficult to keep objective about stuff. And I am a worrier too! It isn't filling me with dread at all, no, you're right. Thanks for a reality check. I do know how lucky we are.

Good luck to your DS for September, sheep.

I am sure he will be very happy at this school and do just fine

Thanks Carrots, I'm not sure that there'll ever be a school I'm 100% happy with, iyswim. If it wasn't the Ofsted, it'd be something else! I'm reassured there is a new head (word is that the old head was approaching retirement and getting complacent). The new head certainly sounds proactive and wants to make changes. Hopefully she'll improve it for the better.

DS1 also has quite a few friends from nursery who are also starting in September and I'm happy that he has that reassurance there.

There is never a perfect school, but if your DS is happy and learning, that is all you need.

Good luck and welcome to the school run!

Can he go to another school out of catchment ? I had no idea this was possible until recently and it seems it is perfectly acceptable.

I took both my Dc out of an OFSTED "outstanding" school with very good SATs results. It was soul-less, completely focused on SATs and teaching to the test, completely missed one of my children's glaringly obvious learning difficulties.

I have visited so many others since, including some which are "good" or "satisfactory" in OFSTED terms and the enthusiastic and caring environment in those schools stands out compared to the DCs' old school.

My DC's school was in a very middle-class are and many of the children had at least one parent who was a teacher - I'm now certain this was part of the reason why the SAts scores were so high, as parents knew the system and could teach their children at home.

So the moral of my own experience is to look beyond the statistics - they only tell part of the story. Visit as many schools as possible before making any decisions. Gut feelings are very important!

Inspection reports really are not everything (and I am a teacher). The best info you can get imo is from visiting the school and from talking to parents with similar views on education. From what you have said it sounds absolutely fine.

Another thing to consider - the new head has only just started so will not have had time to really influence the school yet.

You say you found her to be impressive, this will probably result in significant improvements over the next year or so.

The head really does make the school, if you really like the head's ethos then you will really like the way the school develops.

sheep- Whereabouts are you in Hants ?

I'm in Eastleigh and we did the Secondary School catchment move which also meant moving the DSs into Y6 and 4 of the nearby primary. We moved them from what we considered to be a good junior school in that the Head teacher was very good, a good leader, knew all of the DC by name etc etc and the school's results were on an upward trajectory. OFSTED called it 'good'; but the 'new' primary here is rated 'outstanding' yet really just a SATS factory! As luck would have it, the Head at the previous school has moved on and the school isn't doing so well- I have friends who have moved DC from the Y6 (DS2 left there at the end of Y3 and is now in Y6 in his 'new' school) as they had an ongoing string of part-time teachers with very different ethoses (ethes?!), NQTs for Y6, failure to attract a new Head etc etc. So good schools can slip, but less good schools can improve! To me, -and this is a controversy alert- the type of area a school is in imo is an important indicator as to the quality of the school, and I don't just mean in stellar SATS results. Where we are now is, well, solidly MC and I'd say 95%+ of the DC arrive at school 'school ready' with supportive, involved parents. The old school was in a way more 'diverse' area and to me and my friends who ended up withdrawing DCs, it's pretty obvious that the excellent Head was the person keeping a firm hand on the tiller and a lid on the DCs who've otherwise been 'problematic'. Once he'd gone, the school 'reverted'.

But another charismatic Head could well turn the place around again!

Another factor I think we can be blinded by in choosing schools is things like 69% versus 80% SATS results as we always assume our DCs will be in the 69 or 80, don't we? These results reflect all sorts of things, not least of which the academic 'level' of the DCs entering YR, the degree of social deprivation at the school. Those results could only be truly meaningful if all the DCs in all the schools started from an identical background with identical intellect! FWIW DS1's 'outstanding' secondary's Head does have the grace to say, in his New Parent introduction, that 'Here our DC achieve exceptionally well- but, before I take all the credit, you would hope that they would do well as they arrive here having already achieved considerably higher than the national average'- and the school doesn't have a particularly outstanding VA score! Takes already well educated MC DCs from comfortable, involved homes and turns out well educated DCs from comfortable homes etc etc.

Finally, from what you've said, I'd go with my initial instincts: sounds like a good school in a nice area.

OP
SATs factories can be dismal places even for swots like my DS (she was routinely getting over 95% at the start of year 6 so spent 2 terms bored out of her mind) I wish they had focussed on other things.

If the parents are friendly, the kids skip into school and the teachers approachable then your DC will do fine.
remember that over 50% of school results performance can be predicted from parental background

My catchment secondary school has a catchment filled with the families that nice Mr Cameron thinks he can turn around. He is deluded. And the school will soon trash their shiny new building.

My kids are at a full on huge comp that gets around 68% at GCSE - which considering they have kids whose highest ambition will be to shove manure "well" is pretty darned good.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics - League Tables are the mother of all statistics!

Thanks all for posting, it's so reassuring to hear from others who have had more experience in it all! I do feel better about things. I am going to do what I can do too and just keep an eye on how he develops. I'm sure a year or so down the line, my views will change totally. If my fears are confirmed, then as DH says, then we deal with it then and move based on experience, not what we think it will be like. Littentree - I'll pm you, as I don't really want to post where I am online.

Thanks all, really appreciated.

That's absolutely fine- I'm always up for a PM as long as it's not that nice Mr Cameron