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Original poster

Would you buy house directly opposite primary school?

38 replies

Bakingnovice · 03/06/2013 14:55

We've seen a lovely house but its right opposite a primary. It's a v good primary but we are worried it'll be really noisy all day with drop offs and break times. The house is double glazed and really lovely. It's just being that close to a school is putting my hubby off. Would you buy a house right opposite a primary?

OP posts:

bananananacoconuts · 03/06/2013 15:03

I live directly opposite the primary school dc's attend. In a village but ofsted outstanding so very popular and has 324 pupils. It is busy at school drop off/pick up but not unmanageable and to be fair doesn't affect most people on our street as they have either left for work in the morning and are still there in the afternoon or are part of the school run so will need to use the road anyway.

No problems here whatsoever, however i would suggest this is location dependant.

MrsOakenshield · 03/06/2013 15:06

if you want your DC to go there then yes, the closer the better!

When I lived on the same road as a primary, a few years back, I always knew when term had started because my front garden would fill with crisp packets and the like . . .

Original poster

Bakingnovice · 03/06/2013 15:07

Is it noisy at break times? It's a v popular primary and extremely difficult to get into. It's a good location and the house has its own long drive so no problems having to park outside. Thanks for your input.

OP posts:

ProtegeMoi · 03/06/2013 15:11

We live very close to a primary school, it can be noisy but then so are my children so its not a big issue for me and you be used to it.

Parking is the biggest problem, our house also has its own drive so we thought we would be fine but in actual fact people just park over it and block us in / out, its very frustrating.

Scruffey · 03/06/2013 15:11

I would think it would be fine. Nice easy school run! Stand outside it at lunch time if you want to know what it's like.

MyCatHasStaff · 03/06/2013 15:13

I work in a primary, and we do get complaints from the neighbours about break time, african drumming, lunch time, sports day, evening fundraisers, summer fair... but we're a school ffs, these are normal events in our day (and sometimes evenings and weekends!). If you think these things will bother you, steer clear. Also, you will be very convenient for school friends who need babysitting fancy playdates.

Seeline · 03/06/2013 15:13

You may also need to think about other groups using the buildings out of school hours. It's quite mormal for halls to be leased out for exercise groups etc in the evening, but sometimes they can be used for holiday/activity courses, and by larger groups such as church groups at the weekends.
It's great that he property has a driveway, but some parents can be very inconsiderate at drop off/pick up and park across driveways. You should wander round the area at the appropraite time and see how bad it is.
Noise you would probably get used to in terms of children playing.

nicelyneurotic · 03/06/2013 15:18

I live opposite a small primary. It's not very noisy at all but the road is very busy at pick up time. I didn't even notice there was a school there when I bought the house (before children) so it has never been much of an issue. Only thing that is annoying is when the school leaves some of its lights on all night long. Can see the light through our curtains and it drives me mad.

Dahlialover · 03/06/2013 15:24

I lived opposite a primary, but it was before there were so many parents arriving with cars. I would think this would be the biggest problem but fine if you have a driveway and are prepared to defend it.

It was really noisy at break times and really quiet the rest of the time.

Swings and roundabouts, so to speak ;)

Sinkingfeeling · 03/06/2013 15:26

I live almost opposite a primary school too. I've no idea if it's very busy at drop-off/pick-up times as I'm at work, but I can't imagine it would bother me too much. Huge advantages are that the dc can be at school within 2 minutes of leaving home, and can come back if they forget something vital like their swimming kit. Very handy to be able to just nip across the road for parents' evening, school plays, sports day etc. Also (obviously) no noise (plus reduction in traffic) for the entire 13 weeks of school holidays. Only disadvantage I can see is parking - other parents sometimes ask us if they can park on our drive as it's hard to find spots near the school, and I don't have a problem with that as long as they don't block us in.

noddyholder · 03/06/2013 15:27

No once your children grow out of that stage squawking gets on your nerves

usualsuspect · 03/06/2013 15:36

I used to live a couple of doors away from a primary school, I loved hearing the kids play out and it was great when my children went there.

But then I'm not that bothered by a bit of noise.

GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt · 03/06/2013 16:02

We're very close but not quite opposite. Just the other day I was walking home during the children's lunch break and I regretted that we weren't in one of the houses that gets to hear them. I've always loved the sound of small children playing!

guineapiglet · 03/06/2013 16:05

Our house used to back onto a primary school - most of the time it was absolutely fine, just kind of playground noise, school fetes, nothing obnoxious or difficult to live with. Traffic busier at drop off and pick up and so lovely and quiet over holidays and weekends except 10 -12 on Saturday when it was football academy ( the dads shrieking at their kids was always a treat!). I would say it depends on the location and whether you are bothered by that kind of noise - I would rather have that than other types of noise, plus we knew the playground and fields would never be built on.... It made us VERY lazy about getting to school, a 2 minute walk to school, brilliant.

SadPander · 03/06/2013 18:12

We live opposite a primary and it hasn't put me off doing so again. It gets busier at pick up/drop off times, but not terribly ad generally we are in work anyway. We have no drive and it is less than 20ft from out living room window to the play ground. There's a buzz of noise at play time but I wouldn't say it was unpleasant or annoying.

I might be concerned if I had a drive that people would block me in when I was trying to leave for work, so might be worth a drive by at drop off time to check that there isn't parking chaos! The school opposite us isn't a great school either, so personally I wouldn't be concerned in your case.

doglover · 03/06/2013 18:22

We used to live directly behind a primary school and loved it. You very quickly get used to the break/lunchtime noise and it was very quiet at weekends/holidays! As long as you're aware of the inevitable parking issues then I would say GO FOR IT!

Owllady · 03/06/2013 18:24

I used to live opposite one when my dc were very small and tbh I never even thought about it and never noticed the noise either or increased parking

This was a busy town school though, so it was just busy all the time anyway iykwim

and I am obviously mrs laid back!

specialsubject · 03/06/2013 18:30

if you don't mind the noise of children long after yours are grown, litter everywhere (Because kids now don't know any better) and the dreaded school run mum parking problem.

not everyone minds the sounds of kids. Your call.

Mum2Fergus · 03/06/2013 18:34

Im besides a PS gates...it gets a bit busy at pick up/drop off times, but in reality its max of 15-20mins out of my day...hardly a hardship.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 03/06/2013 18:36

I saw a similar listing. It is probably better than having a secondary school right opposite. Why not go by at the relevant times of day and see how busy it gets? The one I saw has a bus stop right outside the house which would either concern people or be a bonus.

euwa · 03/06/2013 18:37

I was amazed to find that I much prefer the noise of a school yard full of children screaming and shouting, laughing too of course to a noisy pair of kids next door - there is something quite settling about it. A bit like birds chirping but it's the noise of anything else that the school might be used for in the evenings and holiday time plus inconsiderate parking that would put me off - parents think it's okay to block you in for a few minutes and if you have to wait well it's only for a few minutes!

ChewingOnLifesGristle · 03/06/2013 18:40

I wouldn't mind the playground noise but the parking would worry me. I'd be checking out what it's like at drop off and pick up time.

exoticfruits · 03/06/2013 18:49

I back on to one and like the noise- it is only at set times- same as the parking. You can get far worse as neighbours- I have been amazed at how many people on MN think it is acceptable to play music in their garden- I much prefer children any day.

AKissIsNotAContract · 03/06/2013 20:15

We live diagonally opposite a primary school. It's no problem at all

Bakingtins · 03/06/2013 20:23

We used to live just round the corner from a primary school. The noise was not a problem, the parking was a nightmare. If we arrived home at drop off or pick up we couldn't get within streets of our house. If the house has off street parking it might be better but wouldn't be at all surprised if people block you in. I'd visit at 8.45 and 3.30 and see how bad it is before deciding. Also at lunchtime and see what the noise is like but that never bothered me.

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