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Education

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Original poster

Would you move to get into a decent catchment?

57 replies

Valdeeves · 05/04/2013 16:43

Would you move to get into a decent catchment or is it not a priority for you?
I'm feeling that I may be unhealthily obsessed and need some help here!

OP posts:

happygardening · 05/04/2013 17:25

Many years ago we moved out of what was then the 5th the worst LEA in the UK and into the countryside this wasn't our sole motivation for going but it was a factor (I come from the rural idyl). We didn't look specifically at the schools as my children were not old enough but as the four LEA's in the UK that were worse than the one we were then living in were no where near where we moved we figured it could only get better.
We were keen on the idea of not paying fees and the LEA we moved to had plenty if good primaries but we still ended up paying. Such is life.

Rainbowinthesky · 05/04/2013 17:26

Did when we rented but wouldn't sell and buy for this now.

Bonsoir · 05/04/2013 17:35

Yes, children's education is a massive priority for our family and we would never move unless we were in the catchment of excellent schools.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2013 17:42

DS1 goes to a really good school that we aren't in the catchment area for. He just travels there. We didn't have to move.

Manchesterhistorygirl · 05/04/2013 17:46

Yes. See my other threads. House is going up for sale in the next couple if weeks.

DieWilde13 · 05/04/2013 17:49

Yes, will do.

AvrilPoisson · 05/04/2013 17:49

why wouldn't people want to give their children the best possible start in life?

givemeaclue · 05/04/2013 17:50

Yes, we did, don't regret it

tomatoplantproject · 05/04/2013 17:53

Yes. We bought on the basis we would be in the right catchment area (ttc at the time). Dh has promised he won't think about moving until dd is in the school and even then we wouldn't move too far. School is ofsted outstanding. Given the choice I would go for right school smaller property any time - education is too important and going private isn't an option financially.

Mandy21 · 05/04/2013 17:55

Absolutely, 100%. Moved the year before my children started at school - the whole move was solely to get into an outstanding school with outstanding secondary schools. I see education and schooling as one of the most important things I can get "right" as a parent. We have compromised quite alot (size of house / size of mortgage) to be in the location that we are - specifically due to the education provision.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2013 17:55

So should I have moved?

Mandy21 · 05/04/2013 17:59

I think most outstanding schools are massively over-subscribed (certainly the case where we are) so you have zero chance of getting in if you're not in catchment. That doesn't sound like its the case where you are Sparklingbrook - if you've managed to get your son into your preferred school without moving then obviously that's worked for you.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2013 18:01

Oh right. I am sorry, I hadn't even thought of the oversubscribed thing. Feel awful now.

Sparklingbrook · 05/04/2013 18:02

So there is a danger of moving into catchment and still not getting in?

Mandy21 · 05/04/2013 18:13

It obviously depends on area. Where we are yes. My children's school has a 2 class intake (60 children) and is a church school so children of parents connected with the church (clergy, sunday school helpers for instance, leaders for children's activities - brownies etc) get priority, as do siblings. This year (just as a rough estimate) there are about 8 children of parents connected to the church, and 30 siblings, so that leaves 20 odd places for other children living in the catchment. Its a big area so there are definitely children living close to the school who won't get in. I don't think they've taken anyone out of catchment for years.

QuietNinjaTardis · 05/04/2013 18:17

Our house is currently on the market as we need to move closer to a couple of good schools. They are always oversubscribed and the other schools close to us are unfortunately really bad. Really hoping we can get a house and sell ours otherwise I'm not sure what we will do.

tiggytape · 05/04/2013 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lalalonglegs · 05/04/2013 18:19

Yes, have done and would again.

And yes, sparkling, most London schools (where we live) don't have formal catchments just roads where generally people have a good chance of getting their kids into the nearby school. It only takes a birth rate spike or a particularly high sibling intake though to mean that even those living a couple of hundred metres away won't make the cut.

lljkk · 05/04/2013 18:20

Depends what you call decent, no??!!
I just know this thread is only for people who think that ordinary is never good enough.

I feel huge when I hear folk state the school is Ofsted Outstanding like that says everything there is to know. In my mind it says nothing.

Sunnymeg · 05/04/2013 18:26

I think it depends on how well you know the school, not just hearsay from others and the OFSTED report. We considered moving in to town from our village to place DS in the catchment area for the 'best' local secondary school. However this would have added another half an hour to DH journey to work. We decided that as DS was in a low birth year, to take our chances.
When we actually visited the school prior to deciding which secondaries to opt for, we didn't actually like the one we would have moved for. All our friends have sent their children there and they have done well, but there was just something about the place we couldn't warm to. I'm so glad we didn't move as we would have spent thousands on moving to get DS in to a school we didn't actually like.

DS got a place at a school we are happy with. If we had moved we would have had no chance to get him in there.

If it were possible I would visit the schools in your area and make an honest decision about whether it is worth the upheaval to move.

poshbeaver · 05/04/2013 18:29

We did and don't regret it at all. We put our old house on the market when DD was 6 months old to move here so that she could go to a lovely, little school. Both myself and DH are teachers and knew there was no way we would send her to any of the schools near our old house.

tiggytape · 05/04/2013 18:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMargoLeadbetter · 05/04/2013 18:35

We are in London. The uber school in the area has 4 class take, out of the 120 places in reception, 40 were avaiable to non-siblings/SEN etc. So you had to live very near.

Things can quickly change too, so a move doesn't always mean a good school if that school then changes.

And Ofsted can be a little like choosing a house based on the estate agents details.

However, on balance I think most parents would do it if they could etc.

racheael76 · 05/04/2013 18:35

my child went to an outstanding school the headteacher had excellent leadership skills.he was headteacher for 15 years and then retired.we got a new headteacher and she is poor not well liked ,school website has never been touched either.looking at the school they came from ofsted rated it satisfactory.so schools can change rapidly with change.i agree with giving your child the best start but from day 1 .ie when a child is at the end of primary school they want to be with their friends so putting them into another comprehensive may make them unhappy and this could effect their school work.moral=happiness of the child should also be taken into account. is the school in a posh kind of area if so will the child be bullied many go on sking trips ,etc will your child be able to keep up.you know some mums could be like keep away from tyrone hes not a nice boy hes from a rough chavvy school play with the nice boys.

MrsGeologist · 05/04/2013 18:35

Yes, if we were surrounded by truly awful school, that I just could not send them to.
If they were good, but not my first choice, I'd probably stay put.

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