Small flat near great school, or whole house near ok school and friends

[threeleftfeet]

What would you choose?

Option a: small flat in lovely, beautiful historic part of town, neat the most amazing primary school (Ofsted outstanding, but more inportantly we loved it when we visited)
Bad points: no garden, small, would have to get rid of lots of stuff! In an conservative area (large and small C!) which is not us at all. Not by the sea.

Option b: victorian house with garden in neighbouring town by the sea. Space for a study. Garden! The town suits me and DP much better. Very arty and interesting, and lots of our friends live there, and lots more people who we feel are like us! We would have a lovely home life here, and lots of trips to the beach! DP would have a much shorter journey to work.

Bad points: Primary School Ok / average, definitely not amazing.

If we choose option b, DS would miss out on the wonderful start the other school would offer. But do you think having a garden to at with and lots of friends and an interesting, fun homelife would balance that?

If it was just me and DP I'd be in town b like a shot! But is it fair on DS?

This is not easy!

House.... Reputations and ofsted of schools can go up and down. Only takes a change of Headteacher and staff changes.
Also agree with others,that in primary school a lot of the work is done at home.
May be worth looking at Secondary schools too... Time flies!

Aitch, there's flats and then there's flats - SOME towns #namingnonames have fantastic mansion flat-type things which is whole nuther story innit.

The main difference between the schools I think is that school a wanted to tell us all about creativity and learning through play in the foundation stage. They have wonderful resources and a great outside partially wooded area.
The commitment of the all teachers is obvious, I can't see how it could go bad in the next few years!

School b were much more keen on telling is about their improved results (which frankly I don't really care that much about at this stage!) and discipline. However it did seem like a nice place.

x-post HELLO DARLIN'

Wow thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm guessing this is a dilema that many parents have been through, in one form or another?!

House, house, house.
Your home life is going to vastly outweigh the minor cons of the OK school. But I doubt that the (relative) limitations of life in a flat would outweigh the pros of the better school

heheh linds, well yes i know but even if you live in a ginormo-flat you still get farking NEIGHBOURS up and down and a shared garden.

"you just sound more excited by the whole lifestyle of option B"

I am!

Shonuff, agree that is downside. But, The Grandeur.

is bolleaux.

Definitely Option b:
"room for a study" = nice, quiet space to do homework
"garden and beach" = masses of healthy outdoor living, science projects, gardening, nature study
"arty and interesting" = plenty of opportunities to broaden the DCs' minds, expose them to cultural activities
"shorter journey to work" = more time with parents, who are evidently caring and interested in DCs' education

All of that could very easily make up for any shortcomings in the "OK" school in Option B. And you will all be happier, which definitely makes children learn better!

Really nicely put, AChickenCalledKorma thanks :)

You say you can't see how a school can turn in just a few years. It can and I have seen it, some schools can become complacent and ride along on a good reputation, it does not take much for the to be lost.
School B were all about results, unfortunately that is what a lot of parents want to hear, I too like to see the pastoral side. But that can't be measured, unlike SATS.
Good luck.

The flat.

But it all depends on how good or bad the second school is.

However, if it was a poor school that didn't meet the needs of my children, then I would happily live in a flat to get them into a better school.

House. Your DS will love being in the garden in the holidays. Trips to the park/swings are not the same.

House. Every time.

An "ok" school with the right back up at home is fine. And like HumphreyCobbler, I say that as a primary teacher (well until a few years ago anyway!).

I'd choose the house, definitely. There's no guarantee your DS would get on well at the 'good' school, and a lot can change in a few years.

Nice house/garden, friends nearby, short commute to work, by the beach...sounds perfect to me! No way woudl I turn that down, unless the school was really seriously awful. Which it doesn't sound like it is.

Absolutely B, the house!

We lived in a huge house with a humongous garden. Also a neighbour two doors down who practiced his bagpipes in the garden.

Both places sound interesting/ promising - But you sound soo happy about the house, garden, being near the beach. Go there - it will be fab !
You might regret choosing the flat, even though the school near there does sound nice.
Just try and pick him up early a few times and head to the beach after school ?!

Also, did you notice you said "here" about option b - like you'd already moved in !

HOUSE.

Also there might have been big differences in the person you got showing you round each school. You might find there are lovely, like-minded teachers at school b just hiding away a bit. Sometimes headteachers in particular can be a bit results obsessed or think that's what parents want to hear - they don't always appreciate early years education and learning through play as much as they should (IMHO)

Unless the school is actively bad or off-putting, the house!

Not sure. Are you sure your DC would get into the good school anyhow? Our catchment area is a couple of hundred meters as the school is v good.