House outside catchment area

[imme]

Hi, looking for some thoughts from fellow mumsnetters! We have put in an offer for a house which in itself is perfect for our little family and which would have enough space for another child. It is, however, outside the catchment area of a really good school and the alternatives are dire. Our baby is only 3 months old but time goes quickly. The price for the house is pretty much top end for the street (and also compared to recent years) but still affordable for us. We wonder if it is the right decision to go ahead with getting the house or if we should reconsider because of the lack of good schools and look for a house in the catchment area of a good school (and I guess pay more money). We are also concerned about the house prices going down etc etc... We have really fallen in love with the house but we also want to give our kid the best chances for schooling! Is it too early to think about schools?

I would check how far away the good school normally takes from - the LA website may tell you, and whether they are always full from within catchment or if they take out of catchment children. If you have no chance of getting in to the good school and the alternatives truly are not suitable, then I wouldn't buy the house - sorry! (Unless of course you want to go down the private route, in which case location won't matter.)

Schools can change in time of course, but often it is bad ones getting better - I haven't heard often of good primary schools suddenly going bad.

You have 4 years before your child will start school. The reality is that in 4 years this really good school could become one of the dire alternates you mention. A change of head teacher, change of some teachers, poor Ofsted may all change the perceived view of this school.
You should also be aware that being in a catchment area for a school does not guarantee you a place at the school. You need to check out very carefully the admission arrangements of the school, which may or may not mean you have more chance of a getting a place at the school. Last but not least I should mention that every government tinkers to some level with the admission arrangements to schools, so literally anything could happen in the next 4 years.
So whilst I don't think it is ever to soon to think about schools, I am not sure this should be the over-riding decision on whether to but at this time.

How bad are the local schools - why are they bad. Headteachers can make a huge difference but parents/housing don't change much. Check out the neighbourhood. Would you like your child to go to school with the 5 year olds in the playground.

From my experience buying the worst house on the best road is much better than vica versa.

I would reconsider if I were you, we did the same thing when DS1 was 6 months and now the school situation has suddenly become pressing (good schools here getting more oversubscribed every year, the crap local school just as crap). We are having to move house which is hard in the current climate and obviously costs money.

I would consider upping your budget if at all poss to get near a good school, or at least where the worst case scenario isn't awful. Think of the money you'll save by not having to move again in three years.

I wish I'd thought about schools earlier. We are outside the catchment area for our local high school and our alternatives are dire (and the catchment area high school is a sink school miles away...) We have a feeder school system here and we couldn't get into a feeder school for our local high school at all. We are now in a lovely primary school 5 miles away and are desperate to move as soon as possible....but at least we have a place in a good high school.

Thanks for your replies. The schools closest to the house are surrounded by rough areas but there is also a pretty affluant area around there which is not in the catchment area of the good school. But I doubt demographics will change much. We feel that the only alternatives for us are private schools or moving house after 3 years. I guess we have to consider the school issue now rather than later...

Where we are some of the nicest roads are in catchment for the worst schools. Doesn't affect anyone living there as they send their children to the private schools instead.

I saw our local very good state school go from outstanding to special measures within 4 years so you really can't plan that far ahead.

I would be more concerned about paying top whack for the house if I were you. As others have said it is better to be the worst house on the best street than v v.

bump

Private schools start from about £9,000 per year, don't they? If you can afford that and are happy to pay it, no probs, but you may find it cheaper to buy a house in a catchment whose school you are happy with.