Moving chaos - which school?

[BlackBoyMum]

We had planned to move to a new area around 20 mins from our current place. Our house has been on the market for 3 months with quite a few viewings but no offers. DS got into a school in the new area which is okay but not our top choice for that area. Due to fear of not moving at all, we’ve now been offered a place at a local school (which is decent) near our current place and have to decide today if we accept. Should we keep the first school offered in the hopes that we move and risk that drive if we don’t, or do we switch to the local school and try an in year application if we move?

Is this reception or year 7?

This is for reception

Take the one near you now. Moving can take ages. The chain could collapse etc, buyers pull out. Start now and you can always do a move if you need to. Unless there’s a third option of a school in between both areas so then your son wouldn’t have to move schools again.

20 minutes away as in a 20 minute walk, or a 20 minute drive? That makes a big difference.

If the new area is a 20 minute drive away I would definitely accept the place more locally to where you are now, as there are no guarantees when the move will go through. If and when you sell and move, you move his school then. It would be a very long commute to do for potentially months or even longer, after he starts. Who knows when you'll eventually move there if your house hasn't sold yet? The chain could collapse in that time. You can't really send him to a school currently so far away on the assumption you'll live there one day. A school move to the new area should only happen once you actually live there.

If it's a 20 minute walk away I'd still accept the school more local to where you are now as it sounds like you prefer that school anyway. If it's only a 20 minute walk from where you're moving to, you could easily keep him there after the move anyway.

I’d take the place where you live and move schools after the move has taken place. You could always do the drive the other way for a while so he’s not moving house and school at the same exact moment.

Thanks for the advice! Sorry I should’ve been clearer, 20 minute drive and that’s without rush hour traffic

Take the place at the school near you. Driving 20mins to school is incredibly stressful every day. It is much easier to walk to school and have friends/support network nearby.