Ethically, is there any difference between buying a house in a good catchment area and just PAYING fees?

[Fillyjonk]

Seems pretty much the same to me

Both ways you are paying for an edcuation

Both ways the intake of the school is limited, one by catchment (local, expensive) one by just upfront paying fees.

Thoughts? Justifications ?

(this got posted in SEN for some reason. Not sure how. Apologies)

loveangel when are you moving? I am going from near were you are to Barnet in two weeks, for the same reason.

It was a no brainer for us too. Bigger place, nicer area, great parks, good schoold for same money. Okay a bit suburbia but still close to 'drinking' places were I can meet my 'pre-DD' friends.

dinosaur - so do I. I just don't like the schools. And not in a 'fussy middle class bint' sort of way, either. Hackney schools fail black / mixed race boys on a monumental scale. When your local MP (Diane Abbot) abandons her supposedly leftwing principles and sends her son off to City of London School for Sons of Diplomats and Billionaire Hoteliers (or whatever its called), it's not a good sign...I just want a better start for my boy, even if it does mean moving away from my beloved urban enclave to some funny, leafy place on the northern line :-)

Pippi, we've just put in an offer on a house in North Finchley, after being gazumped on two previous houses in West Finchley and Woodside Park. Fingers crossed we'll get this one, but not pinning all my hopes on it. Mind you - we have got a laughably good price for our crappy little Hackney terrace. I keep cackling to myself when i think how much the posh (lovely but VERY posh) couple who're buying house are shelling out for the place we bought 10 years ago when the whole area was like a scene from New Jack City, complete with gun toting, crack slinging hoodlums. tee hee (I'm so evil aren't I?)

Where are you?

well what about my buyer? she's paying a fortune for my two bed flat (bought 6 years ago) in an area where all that you mention is still happening. no posh people in site here as yet! maybe it's good as she will make some money as we did!!

If I tell you that I am not in Hackey but on it's borders, but not 'trendy' Stokey I am sure you get the picture.

Moving to East Barnet, mortgage free, hopefully in two weeks but there might be a not small chance that it will fall through as seller is playing unfair. Like you I have stopped buying furnitures in my head and not packed one single thing. it's called denial.