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Education

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Original poster

Would you uproot your family to move into a grammar school catchment area?

16 replies

princessosyth · 14/01/2008 17:55

At the moment we live in a very nice town which has excellent primary schools but a very average secondary school (51% get 5 good GCSE passes). In a couple of years we will need to move house as we are bursting at the seems and would like another child.

Our dilemma is do we stay in the same town (which we love!) and move to a larger house and have a larger mortgage when we can barely afford the mortgage on our rabbit hutch as it is. Or do we move to Buckingham where we would be in the catchment area of The Royal Latin School (100% good GCSE passes), house prices are much cheaper so we could also have a larger house for the same mortgage as currently.

How do I even know if ds is grammar school material? at the moment he is bright, his nursery school have told me that he is about 12 months ahead in terms of his development but I imagine this will level off and he is a summer baby so who knows what level he will be at age 10.

I wouldn't normally up sticks just to get into a good catchment area but as we are going to have to move at some point it has got me thinking.

OP posts:

needmorecoffee · 14/01/2008 17:57

he's still at nursery? Kids and schools can change so much in that 7 years! I'd go for the cheaper larger house to be honest, regardless of schools. you can always home ed to get the best results.

Lauriefairycake · 14/01/2008 17:59

If I ignore the stuff about schools (which are temporary thoughts and dependant on your child) and think about what you said:

larger house, larger mortgage, area you love
larger house, cheaper mortgage, area you don't know as well

So it comes down to do you want a larger or cheaper mortgage?

Only you know the answer to that (I would want the cheaper mortgage unless in a job where money and pay rises were going to get easier)

LIZS · 14/01/2008 17:59

Remember only a small minority pass 11+, so there is no guarantee even if you do move. Only do it now if there are other advantages.

Wisteria · 14/01/2008 18:01

Personally I'd always go for a grammar if you're lucky and able! You can pay for coaching through the 11+ if necessary but you'll find that if you get him into a local primary school which feeds into the grammar the teachers will help you and let you know if he's likely to pass or not.

Don't forget though that secondary schools can change a lot in 7 years (sometimes it only takes a new head or a cash injection).

In your situation I'd be moving to where I wanted to live and would probably go for cheaper if you're finding your mortgage a struggle anyway - DCs get ever so expensive at secondary school!!

Original poster

princessosyth · 14/01/2008 18:06

We would like not to have to increase our mortgage as it would obviously ease the pressure but I am reluctant to leave our area unless there is a really good reason which is why Buckingham and its education system appeals to me. Apparantly in Buckingham over 30% of children will get a place at the grammar school as there is higher ratio of places to children than there are in most grammar school catchment areas.

OP posts:

roisin · 14/01/2008 18:07

Yes, if it were an option for us I would move to be in a grammar school catchment.

In fact we moved house/jobs/etc when dss were 3 and 5 and hadn't even started school. I wish at the time I'd thought about secondary education tbh and moved to a grammar school area.

alfiesbabe · 14/01/2008 18:08

Grammar school sounds tempting, but think it through carefully. Things can change a lot in the years before your dc would go there - headteacher, staff, maybe grammar schools will even be abolished! Also, how much do you know about entry to the school? Presumably there's a set number of places per year, so if your child is born in a high birth rate year, then his chances of getting in are reduced. And the 11 + isnt even a very good indicator of intelligence anyway! I would tread carefully - the worst case scenario is that you'd move, dc doesnt get in and ends up in the local alternative which won't have the 'top' kids because they've been creamed off to the grammar!

Original poster

princessosyth · 14/01/2008 18:10

That is what worries me alfiesbabe, the alternative school in Buckingham has only 25% of pupils obtaining 5 good GCSE passes which in some ways is not surprising given that the top 30% will be at the grammar school.

OP posts:

filthymindedvixen · 14/01/2008 18:10

just a teeny word of warning, we were all set to move and do this, based on dsses advanced developments and obvious genius etc but then at the age of 7 it became increasingly apparant there were hugec problems with ds1's writing and spelling. DS was dx dydlexic and although his IQ puts him in top 3 pc, he would not pass an 11 plus...

And if you have 2 children, what if one got in and one didn't (which happened to many of my friends when I was younger)

Original poster

princessosyth · 14/01/2008 18:13

hmmm... so perhaps we wait until until ds has finished infant school before we make a decison? If ds started a new school in year 3 which that be awful for him? I never changed schools so don't have any experience of being the new girl.

OP posts:

LIZS · 14/01/2008 18:15

and those % can be skewed by high/low birthrate years. Grammar places are always filled first. Also there are catchment changes afoot due to pressure on Bucks school places and applications from other areas so don't get caught out.

Original poster

princessosyth · 14/01/2008 18:16

I meant would not which

OP posts:

LIZS · 14/01/2008 18:20

ds moved country at Year 3, was fine. Lots of kids around here do because many schools are infant/junior on separate sites. Even at 7 or 11 you may not be sure though. dn was anticipated to get a grammar place this year (acc to mil) and didn't , even some of the tutored ones didn't.

OverMyDeadBody · 14/01/2008 18:20

I'd move to a bigger house with a smaller mortgage tbh and worry about the schools when they are old enough!

Acinonyx · 14/01/2008 21:49

I understand your dilemma. Dd is not at school yet but we want to move house and not feel we need to move again for schools, which means having to think about secondary schools already (our local has 37% pass rate!!!).

However, I'm actually relieved that Grammar is not an option in our area as I would then be so anxious in case dd ended up at the alternative whcih is usually terrible. She's a very bright child of very bright parents - but you just can't count your 11+ until tested. Stranger things have happened.

So in your place, I would stay where you are, and be prepared to revisit this whole issue when the time comes to register for secondary school.

AbbeyA · 14/01/2008 22:37

We did the opposite and moved out of 11+ area. I suppose it is OK if you are sure your DC will pass but if not you are left with schools where top % is already creamed off.Much better to go for good comprehensives. We moved to area where all comprehensives are good.I was very pleased as DS came on amazingly in Yr 7 but before that may have failed 11+.
A much easier decision for me as I am anti grammar schools anyway.

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