Downsizing to 2 bed flat (with children) for a good school's catchment.. anyone done this?

[confusedperson]

Hello, my question is in the thread name. My DC are in a great primary at the moment, but I just worked out that to get into a preferred secondary we need to move. The secondary area is a much better area than we are now, so the best move without increasing our mortgage would be an average 2 bed flat (2 bed and open plan kitchen/living room + large balcony). We are now in a 2-bed spacious house (2 up 2 down +conservatory).

Ideally I would love 3 bed house, but I would have to increase my mortgage which I could do but after 10 years DC will (hopefully) be in a university and I will not need the 3-bed then. So.. squeezing in 2 bed flat with 2 boys until they grow up, for one of the best secondaries in the area... possible?

Anyone has done it? Was the move worth it? How did you settle in the smaller space? Any experiences would be very welcome!!

Sorry for the typos and mistakes in my previous posts, the tiredness does its job. My boys are still quite little, infants in the primary and there is 2.5 year gap between them. Admittedly they are already very different, but if they continue to share the room, I would make sure each of them have a separate space.

After long long thinking I am finally feeling excited about the prospect of moving, so that is a good sign. Only slept for 2 hours last night, as I was doing decluttering of my house in my head :)

Sorry to bother everyone, but if I can get an advice whether 3 smallish bedroom+lack of storage or 2 proper bedrooms+plenty of storage sound a better option.

Hmm, as an adult I would probably want the 2 bed with more storage myself, but then I can also remember being desperate for my own room as a teenager. I know many kids share rooms and were/are happy with it, but I wasn't and was very happy when I finally got my own room at university! So I'd probably go for the 3 bed myself, since you can always be creative with storage, and having a detached garage will help.

In your situation 3 bed with little storage without a doubt. Just declutter like mad! And keep on too of it too. Boys are going to want/ need their own space unless you're prepared to sleep in the living room during their teenage years. If you were happy to do that, get two bed with good storage!

I meant 'on top of it too.'

I'd go for the option of converting to a 3 bed. There are lots of clever storage solutions now, like those double beds that you can lift the mattress and use the whole of the bottom for storage.

Thanks! It will depend on what comes up on the market at the right time.
Regarding option 2), the non-convertible 2 bed - thinking twice, it would be possible to cut of part of bedroom and part of living room (with a window) and make the 3rd bedroom. However, the lounge/dining room would become pretty small - I guess I could only fit a dining table, a sofa-bed with a little table, TV and an odd book shelf. I guess about 12-13 sq.m. which includes open walkway to the stairs, kitchen, internal hall and sliding doors to the roof terrace. A bit small but could work possibly?
The kitchen is off the lounge/diner and is about 8-8.5 sq.m.