When it comes to choosing a school for your child why do so many parents......

[graceM]

go for the easiest and most convienient choice for THEM, not their child? The only reason I ask is that most of my friends/aquaintences/neighbours etc have their children at the same primary school and then automatically chosen to send them to the feeder secondary school despite it being rated a grade 3 school (unsatisfactory/requires improvement). For most of them (and theyve admitted this) they chose to send their children to the school down the road as they are too lazy to have to drive a long distance and they "just can't be bothered"

Whereas myself I chose to opt for a catholic primary and secondary school for my children in the neighbouring borough

Lucky you for being in an area where it is genuinely possible to get into a school that's far enough away you need to drive.

It was highly unlikely we'd get anything other than our closest, regardless of what I thought if it.

And it's much better for my DC to hear positive messages about their school community (including that everyone's going there) than any negative opinions from me.

I worked my children had to get themselves to secondary school.

How lazy am I?

I'm not saying that they should have sent their children to Catholic school. Like ice already said there are non denominational schools in and just slightly out of the borough that are so much better than the schools most of the people online send their kids to, it's not about faith. And to the person who insinuated I was lazy for driving....I have three children to get to three separate schools/nirsery withing the space of 30 minutes, so I have to drive!

I'm not Catholic and disagree with the principle of the state funding faith schools - that is why.

You wouldn't have to drive if they could walk themselves to school.

If you live in my borough you have to pick the most 'convenient' or closest school as the catchment areas are tiny. Picking one in the next borough would be pointless. Thankfully the council publish a map of where the new intake of pupils came from each year so you can get a rough idea if you have a hope in hell....

Grade 3 is not inadequate.
Ofsted is a pile of *
I would rather my kids didn't spend their lives being ferried about in evil cars.
Local is usually better, as a general rule.
Catholics may query your integrity in choosing a catholic school based on ofsted and results.
There is more to life than GCSE grades.
Good kids do well no matter which school they go to...
I could go on....
But ultimately, it's your choice, and you have your reasons. Let others get on with it too...
Even if it is just 'more convenient', there is a lot to be said for that in terms of lifestyle, stress levels, quality time with kids, and not relying on cars.

Well that's your choice, I chose to leave my job temporarily and work on the agency/night shifts etc so that I could take my children to school.

Ofsted reports are not as important as what fits for your child. Have you considered that different children have different needs as do parents? There is nothing wrong with school choices being part of the overall family picture, fitting in with others.

Many people feel that going to school within their local community is important. Many people feel their children will benefit greatly from being able to walk to school and not being reliant on their parents. Many people see there is huge benefit in having all your children's school friends living nearby. Many people need to work instead of being needed for the school run especially at secondary age.

I can't drive.
If I could we couldn't afford for me to get a car.
Once my dc's are in secondary school I'd need to pay high bus fares x 2 to get them to school and back,as its quite a distance.Their schoolday would be longer because of travel.And once back they'd have to walk through fields in the dark in the winter.

But that's just laziness. I would rather drive my children to school day in day out for years if it meant they get to attend a good school and leave well educated than choose to send them to the most convieient school for ME and them leave with a shoddy one.

Really?! I hope your children do well as you seem to be living vicariously through them.., 'but I gave up my job for you, you ungrateful lot!... How dare you run off with the circus!!?'

Bugger MN for not letting us have a medal emoticon.

Well, someone's got to go to those schools that you think aren't good enough - not everyone can go to the "outstanding" Catholic school further down the road

I am not prepared to pretend to be Catholic. My daughter attends an OFSTED inadequate school as that is where she can get a place. I am a failure as a mother.

Ofsted isn't the be all and end all. Outstanding ofsted school locally - I know several parents who have taken their children out of that school as it failed there children academically or emotionally
My daughter goes to the village school we live on the road with. It's a 3, but then 2 children failing sats meant a massive drop in their results percentage as only 25 children in that year! The teachers are fab and they work so hard with every child. Plus we now know everyone in the village and daughter loves being part of local community. I did like better rated more facilities school, but commuting to school when we like the local one didn't seem like a good deal

I am not surprised you get bad reactions in real life if you come across anything like you do on here.

How dare you accuse people of being lazy?!

Don't be so bloody ridiculous.As if people can give up their jobs to ferry their children to school.

Are you on a wind up?

Well done you!

You are just sooooooo much better than "most of the people online". Though if you popped onto a super selective grammar thread or one of the Winchester, Eton etc ones I expect you'll be found rather wanting with your mere one borough over religious school. But by all means have your little moment of superiority!

Will this do in lieu of a medal Chipping?

graceM

Come on then.
What should I do as a non driver?

Glad you could change jobs so easily, I mean that choice is available to everyone right :/

If you have faith in yourself as a parent, and in your kids as learners, you won't need to rely so heavily on school to bring them up. They will thrive on your trust.

I'm sorry but if its a pat on the back you want for making such wonderful choices for your children you have come to the wrong place.

So what you have 30mins to drive your kids to schools that's your own doing, Unlike some who don't get a choice in the matter.

I'm now bored