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Original poster

dilema - like where I live but the schools are rubbish

19 replies

emily05 · 09/02/2008 20:46

I like where I live. I have parks, the seafront, am 1 hour from London and the houses are nice (victorian). There are also lots of jobs
The problem is that the schools in my local area are rubbish. My sons primary school is 'satisfactory'.

My real problem is with the secondary schools. My two local schools are rubbish. one had a 34% pass mark - the average being 45%. The other school is so bad it has just been shut down and reopened under a different name. If I stayed in this area i would move into the catchment area of the 1st school.

I am in a right bind about it. I do love it here but in reality it is a bit rough i suppose! Has anybody been in a similar situation - has any info or advice? I really would appreciate it!

OP posts:

pooodle · 09/02/2008 21:43

um,

a, rent close to a good school for 6 months before your son has to go to seondary

b, go private

c, move

d, hope local schools improve

e, find a faith school (usually better) and start going to church for a few years

difficult one! how long do you have before you have to apply?

Clary · 09/02/2008 21:45

well I will say that results are not the be-all and end-all.

If the area is not rich, then the children will not be so well supported and may not achieve so well as in a middle class area. Doesn't make yr DS any less able tho. If you support him etc he may do very well even at a school where many do not?

What are the actual schools like - ie atmosphere, the pupils, the head, the other teachers?

evenhope · 09/02/2008 21:58

Often schools that have been closed and opened under a new name improve beyond belief. This happened to the school nearest us which had a been a real sink school. New name, new Head, new uniform. Within a few years it had a waiting list. My DS went there and despite its 5 A-C rate of 24% he got 10 good A-Cs

How long till your DS goes to secondary? Things can change in just a few years. Also if they "set" in the schools the average marks won't affect your DS. Have you actually visited the schools or are you going by this pass mark and reputation?

AbbeyA · 10/02/2008 08:37

I don't think that you will like my answer, but I wouldn't wait for the schools to improve-I would move now to give your DCs time to settle before secondary school age.
However I should take the suggestion of evenhope and go and look first. Even if they are not near secondary age you could go to an open day or request a visit. My local Primary School had a reputation for being rough but it was brilliant and when it became a Beacon School local people (who hadn't been)had to revise their opinion.

Acinonyx · 10/02/2008 11:48

We are in this position and we are in the process of moving. I think Evenhope has a good point though.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 10/02/2008 11:49

I second that league tables are not neccesarily the best indicator.
Do you know people in the area whose children go to the secondary schools?

Judy1234 · 10/02/2008 12:02

Get a better job and pay for a private school? or move. Or try to make up at home for the problems at the school.

ScienceTeacher · 10/02/2008 14:44

We don't have good secondary schools here in NW Surrey, therefore we have chosen private.

If we were not able to use the excellent private schools in the area, we would move (probably to the USA )

CarGirl · 10/02/2008 14:50

ST where do you live???? Our local sink school suddenly has a waiting list!!! I@m in NW Surrey to btw

ScienceTeacher · 10/02/2008 14:53

I think your sink school (JHS) was the one the county offered us, given that the nearby disappointing school (MC) was oversubscribed. My DSs do however go to school in your town!

CarGirl · 10/02/2008 15:00

I strongly believe the only reason why is is oversubscribed for September is because the catholic school is no longer taking non-catholics!!!!!!!!!!! DD1 who is in year 6 has got into a scholarship school however I was happier with JHS after I went to visit and looked at how the then current year 8/9 were doing etc Fortunately by the time my younger ones in yrR & yr1 I think it will be much improved as they are probably not going to be academically able like the eldest!

I've actually heard several horror stories about St G though from parents whose dds went their after it merged with the girls school which is quite to me.

ScienceTeacher · 10/02/2008 15:16

I love St G - it is fab fab fab - worth every penny.

After our parents' evening this week, it seems that DS1 is on track to get all A* for his GCSE.

CarGirl · 10/02/2008 15:18

I can imagine it's wonderful! I think the problems were with the dc whose parents just paid the money and expected the school do everything and quite a lot of drug problems but I think that is common in all schools sadly.

ScienceTeacher · 10/02/2008 15:18

btw, the merger with StM was many, many years ago. I don't think there are any former StM pupils in the system now.

ScienceTeacher · 10/02/2008 15:19

DS2 has just denied any drug problems at his school...

lljkk · 10/02/2008 20:38

If OP is implying that a satisfactory=rubbish I'm going to feel very cross. About 50% of children in this country attend primary schools that are rated satisfactory. They aren't all getting a rubbish education as a result. Better "satisfactory" than SATS-factory, if you ask me.

Hum... Our local secondary has a GCSE pass rate of 42%. Yet I know several local parents who rave about the high school, how good it has been for their children, how ambitious their DC are and how well the school caters for their child's aspirations.

We moved to this area having a low opinion of the high school, and assuming we would have to move house when eldest child needed to attend secondary. But now, I'm not so sure. Besides, eldest is only 1/2 way thru primary school and a lot of other things might change in next 3 years, anyway.

Has anyone mentioned Home-Ed as option for secondary, too?

smartiejake · 10/02/2008 20:49

It sounds like you might live in Southend? My sil is having exactly the same probs as you for her dd1 who will be transfering to year 7 this sept. She is not up to passing the 11 + (2 local grammar schools) and is very worried about her most local comp which has in the past had a terrible reputation.

However I have a friend whose dd already goes to this comp school and they apparently have a new head who is really turning things around. My friend is very impressed saying that the care her dd has had so far is fantastic and the discipline is very good. It might be worth going to visit the schools in your area before damming them there might be more optimism than you think. Schools can be turned round very quickly with the right person at the helm.

If you are in Southend and would consider moving, there are very good schools (both prim and secondary) in Rayleigh, Wickford and Billericay not that far from you.

Christywhisty · 10/02/2008 21:25

First of schools change in quite a short time. DS's school was failing 7 years ago. A new Headmaster and their results are 2nd best in our area and well above average. It's also a lovely school with a great atmosphere.

Our second choice of school does not get good results, but all the parents I know are very happy there. The TA's and teachers are actually happy to send their own children there.

Original poster

emily05 · 13/02/2008 20:20

Thankyou all for your fantastic advice. You have no idea how helpful this has been.

Smartiejake you really are smart - it is southend!! I do love the area but am realising now that I am all grown up that perhaps parts are a bit rough! Never bothered me when I was a student - but now am concerned.
It is so ironic that you mentioned Rayleigh - we are thinking of moving there! It will be a stretch financially but not out of the question.

thanks again for your advice guys.

As an additionally query - schooling aside - would any of you rent rather than buy to move to a nicer area? Am I damaging my son forever subjecting him to living in an area that ofsted deem 'deprived!'

OP posts:

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