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Original poster

House v's School

17 replies

AngelaD · 29/01/2006 11:32

We could afford a beautiful house in an area where we would stand no chance of getting our children into the good state schools, because people never leave.
So if you had to choose between a good state school and a nice house or a smaller house in an area where the school is very good which would you choose and why ??
TIA

OP posts:
poppiesinaline · 29/01/2006 11:43

Depends. Are we talking really really rubbish school or just average rather than excellent. Besides, you can go to a really really 'good' school and your kids can still not do well - may be unlucky and have a 'bad group' in a year or a run of poor teachers. Even good schools get 'trouble kids'. Sorry, thats probably no help is it!

rarrie · 29/01/2006 11:44

Choice:I'd go for the school (unless I could afford private). My choice would be a smaller house in an area with a good school and perhaps room to extend?

Why? My thinking is that of all the things you can give a child in life, one thing no one can ever take away from them is a good education. Once they've got that, they've got it. I think I'm probably biased as I'm a teacher, but I've always found it reassurring that no matter what I do in life, I can go off and explore different avenues and jobs, but I've always got the security of having the qualifications of being a teacher behind me and that has opened a lot of doors for me. If I could give that level of security to my child I would... so I'd opt for the education!

poppiesinaline · 29/01/2006 12:45

but in answer to your question, yes, probably school above house. Is is a primary school/junior or high school? You could always move when the kids have been through the school!

Pinotmum · 29/01/2006 12:53

Yes I would go for a good school and a smaller house and probably will have to make this choice in a few years.

SoupDragon · 29/01/2006 13:01

It depends on what the differences are really. If the good school/nice house combo is a good school and not cr*p, then what is the problem?

Also, are you sure people never leave? That would be very unusual IME.

Head teachers leave and the school changes, you can make a huge difference to your child's education yourself by taking an interest. A house will be something you're kind of stuck with unless there's scope for improving it.

scienceteacher · 29/01/2006 16:26

We have a modest house and use independent schools.

GDG · 29/01/2006 16:55

Would depend on the school options - how different they were. Overall, I think I'd go for the school - it's just too important to me to give my children the best possible opportunities.

I certainly wouldn't choose a gorgeous/massive house in a bit of a dodgy area with a school I wasn't happy with just for the space in the house. I think the school a child goes to will influence them much more than the size of house they grow up in.

But if you move to the beautiful house and you can't get into the school you want - what are the other options like? Are they really that bad?

Original poster
AngelaD · 29/01/2006 17:18

I guess i wasn't very clear, sorry.
My choice is a big house in an ok area (sutton coldfield in the west midlands) and private school or a tiny house on the wirral and an excellent state school.
It's either or I wouldn't send them to the state schools in sutton or need to send them private on the wirral iyswim.

OP posts:
GDG · 29/01/2006 17:32

Right, erm, then for me I think it would be where would I rather live. Tricky, because then again, I'd avoid private education if I could (depending on the individual schools though). Those two locations are very far apart - surely other factors come in other than school?

fairyglo · 29/01/2006 17:34

AngelaD, we're just going through this choice now and have opted for an ok house in a pretty depressing area with very few facilities for a good school. Moving down the property ladder.

Both of us are rather down in the dumps about this and my husband is quite worried that I will be alone basically in the wilderness with a new baby and toddler with no facilities around (need to learn to drive) and that he will have a slightly longer journey home so less support from him/he probably won't be able to put the toddler to bed etc.

Still, the alternatives seem very limited and I think education is key. Also, our thinking was that if my son isn't happy at the school, however good it seems to us as adults, we would still be able to afford to move since having moved down the property ladder we wouldn't have a big mortgage (although would have wasted thousands in stamp duty etc). I think you always need to bear the latter point in mind since even the highest achieving schools inevitably suit some children and not others. You do need to leave yourself with some room to do a u-turn if really really necessary.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

Original poster
AngelaD · 29/01/2006 17:42

We've been in no mans land for 2 years, so actually couldn't get much more depressed when it comes to house moves. We rent at the moment after eventually having to give away our house to move up to the wirral but now we've got here the prices are still rising where as in sutton they are falling, our house went for 17% below asking price.
There are other factors but in terms of importance they don't really matter compared to making the right decission about the school and house.

OP posts:
blueshoes · 29/01/2006 18:34

AngelaD, since you can go private, I'd go for the big house. I assume that there will be a selection of good private schools near you. If so, a choice of schools is IMO better than putting all your eggs in one (state) basket. And you get a nice house on top of that. Schools are so different in ethos and the right one depends so much on the individual child.

julienetmum · 29/01/2006 22:02

I would go for the big house in Sutton, go private for primary and try for entry to either St Mary's grammar (next door in Walsall) or King Edwards.

julienetmum · 29/01/2006 22:05

I meant Queen Mary's.

Are house prices really falling in Sutton, that was a high price area when we left Walsall 4 years ago.

mummyhill · 29/01/2006 22:42

High Clare are in Erdington just down the road from Sutton and they are a quite well respected private school. So I would stick with Sutton and try to get them in at the grammar, QM or King Eds

Original poster
AngelaD · 30/01/2006 08:17

According to the Halifax house prices in the West Midlands fell by 6% last year if you take into account that new builds sell for 120% of their true value then it was probab;y nearer 15% and nothing is selling.
I'm not sure about the grammer schools, I went to K Ed's and am not keen for my girls to.

OP posts:
marialuisa · 30/01/2006 09:49

We moved from the Wirral last year and houses in the Bebington Grammar catchment areas are still pretty low. Agree that West Kirby catchment prices are silly though.

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