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Original poster

would you move house to get into better school

36 replies

micegg · 04/12/2007 20:59

Not really a major problem for me right now as DD only 2. . However, we moved to what we thought was a nice area before she was born. But it would seem the schools in our immediate area are either standard (ofsted) or good. The ones thst are labelled anything above this are not near us and are very oversubscribed. DH and I are considering moving. If we do this we will have to downsize (only 3 beds as it is) and take on a larger mortgage. Not ideal as we are expecting DC2 soon and will ahve less money. Have anyof you bene faced with this and how much does it really matter to your child in respect of Ofsted reoprts and exam result etc. I am thinking we shoudl stay put and then find the best school we can get it into that we like. DC2 will (planning to be) our last child so I am thinking we could moce for better secondary schools of need be.

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Original poster
micegg · 04/12/2007 20:59

Excuse typos

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Hulababy · 04/12/2007 21:02

I would and have. In the end however, on visiting the school in the new catchment we actually decided that it wasn't the best school for us/DD and she didn't go there.

However don't dismiss schools purely on OFSTED. Visit them, ask opinions, find out more.

pantoinghousewife · 04/12/2007 21:04

We moved to this area because we liked the house, all of our schools are (only)good but, my ds (the eldest) has done really well at all of the local schools and is already predicated to get As in his GCSEs, which aren't for 3 years.
Also I firmly believe that parents have a part to play in their childs education, via motivation and support and you could move to an area with a great school, pay top end for your house and in three years the standards might have dropped.
So no, I wouldn't move for an entrance to an excellent school but, then I can afford to say this, as my ds has done well out of our schools.

Original poster
micegg · 04/12/2007 21:05

Thanks Hulababy. Its just rather unfortunate that I live on the outskirts of a particulalry expensive area in SW London where the schools are just that bit too far from where we are.

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Jzee · 04/12/2007 21:06

Yip just done it! Schools weren't my only consideration, but they were definitely a major factor as to why we moved. We left it right up until the last minute ( which wasn't planned), but actually it worked out even better that way as DS now goes to a lovely good state school which is exactly what I was hoping for. If it's only the schools that you are moving for then I would look at an alternative.

Original poster
micegg · 04/12/2007 21:08

P/Housewife - sorry cross posted reply to HB. If I was guaranteed to get into the 'good' schools near us I wouldnt be so bothered. The schools nearest us have been classed as standard. The nearest 'good' school is beyond walking distance so dont know if that means we will struggle to get in. The very good ones are driving distance away in the expensive area.

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goldfrankincenseandSlur · 04/12/2007 21:09

Gonna be really nosy here hulababy, you in Sheffield aren't you? Which school did you reject?

Ok too damn nosy, you don't have to answer. I'll assume somewhere SW...

To OP I would say it's worth considering the effects of moving areas once they're in the school system, in that if they've got friends all going to one particular secondary and your LOs have to start a new one with no familiar faces Saying that some kids find it absolutely fine to change schools, others welcome the fresh start and some struggle a bit, there's no accounting for personality!

pantoinghousewife · 04/12/2007 21:12

Ah I see, hmm in that case I don't know what I would do. We've just been very lucky.

goldfrankincenseandSlur · 04/12/2007 21:13

I wouldn't be overly bothered by OFSTED TBH, lots more interesting factors to consider, does it have good links with community (always a plus), cultural/ethnic mix, does it have a sixth form? Is there a high turnover of staff (not a great sign)? What's their approach to education are they liberal, conservative? What provision for SEN? all sorts of stuff!!!!

pantoinghousewife · 04/12/2007 21:16

I would say though that we have two middle schools in our area, we visited both and we didn't like the top performing one very much. Really had a nice feeling about the other one and that is where we sent ds. And they were fantastic, and now the top performing middle school so you need to see a school to decide if you like it, really.
I wouldn't go on ofsted reports alone.

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 22:45

Yes. Would. Did.

Other people do it. That's the problem. if nobody did it, and everyone just went to their catchment school, then maybe the system wouldn't be so cut-throat. But who wants to be first?

cat64 · 04/12/2007 23:14

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cat64 · 04/12/2007 23:15

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cornsilk · 04/12/2007 23:16

Yes and might do if we can afford it. We're just outside the catchement - would only be moving down the road!

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:18

Ofsted is flawed and has become even more of a blunt instrument since it refined its previous 7-category classification to 4 (Outstanding, Good, Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory). That's like having exam grades A, B, C and U.

southeastastra · 04/12/2007 23:18

no i supported the local school

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:20

I supported the local school, but I only have the moral high ground to say I did so as we made it our local school by moving to its catchment

(We had to appeal to get in, though. All to do with timing and the cap on KS1 numbers.)

southeastastra · 04/12/2007 23:25

think people get in such a state about it.

mrsruffallo · 04/12/2007 23:29

I am lucky enough to be v happy with our local school. I f I wasn't yes I would consider moving and poss will for secondary school.

paulaplumpbottom · 04/12/2007 23:30

Lukily we don't need to but I would have done anything to get my d into the school we wanted

UnquietDad · 04/12/2007 23:31

People get obsessed. I blame league tables. It's especially acute in a big town or city where the gap between the "best" and "worst" schools can be enormous.

cornsilk · 04/12/2007 23:33

Yes people do get in a state about it but for some children the right school is vital and by that I don't neccessarily mean league tables etc. We had a terrible experience at what was supposedly one of the best primary schools in the LEA with ds2 - thank goodness there was another school I could get him into.

southeastastra · 04/12/2007 23:33

i live right in the middle of private school land. people are such snobs. i'm past caring about it. my ds(14) is doing well at secondary, i have faith in him.

MeMySonAndI · 04/12/2007 23:40

Everytime someone talks about downsizing or taking a larger mortgage I wonder if it would be cheaper to pay for a private school.

Well, in our case it was! No regrets so far

cornsilk · 04/12/2007 23:40

Yes I agree that snobbery is part of it. We live in a LEA with the grammar school system. Does my head in how much emphasis is put on getting children into grammar.