Am I overthinking all this - schools and location/moving

[solomonrulesok]

We live in an area with amazing primary but very average state secondary school. Not awful at all just not that great really.

We still have time to move prior to primary school applications.

Would you consider moving to an area where there was both good primary and secondary or am I overthinking? By 'good' I mean better results, general chat about from other parents and ofsted. It's so hard to do this now as who knows what my kids will be like too by then and what we'll be looking for in a school.

We are not tied to where we live and there are a range of other areas we could move to - though they have their own compromises. One is longer commute. The other is much pricier. Plus different lifestyles in both.

We probably could afford private at secondary though am a little reluctant to go down this route. Also most kids around here go to state so likelihood is friends will be made by then so also might be harder decision to go private anyway.

On the one hand I'm keen to move as don't feel that settled here but on the other hand the thought of starting again somewhere makes me stressed just thinking about it.

If you're gong to move do it before the DC start school. We have just moved DS in the middle of primary school to get into catchment for a decent secondary and bitterly regret not moving before he started school.

I did and have never regretted it The people I know who didn't either say they regret it or bang on all the time about how really it is so good really really Like they are trying to convince themselves

A lot can change in 7+ years to the fortunes of a secondary school

Why move now when your eldest won't start secondary for 7 years at least? A good secondary now will likely not be good in 7 years time!

There was a similar post a few days ago.
here

I'm a teacher, I wouldn't move because of that if you have a good primary near by. A lot can and will change in the secondary schools before your LO starts there.

I think it depends on what you want in the round. I finally managed to relocate after DS had started primary school - secondaries were a factor but not the only factor. He has had a bumpy year tbh, much bumpier than expected. But other kids settle in a couple of months

Depends how far away the good secondary is - if it's not too far away you could go the local primary school then move before secondary applications while still attending the same primary.

Don't move before primary on the basis that you'll be closer to a good secondary - it might not be so good in eight years' time.

Stick with the great primary, and see how your child develops - it may be that one of the less good schools locally picks up in that time, and it may be that your child's own interests and abilities would be better met by an entirely different school anyway.

If you can afford private, you've got that as a back up. But you've also got a bit of spare money to supplement any perceived inadequacies through private tuition and enrichment classes too.

See I don't agree that schools change much. My view is that secondary schools are influenced to quite a large extent by the local demographic and whilst there may be minor changes due to funding or a new headteachers etc, the demographic is unlikely to change drastically over a relatively short period of 7 years.

Obviously different people (perhaps in different areas) have different views but we moved back to the LA where I went to school specifically for secondary schools (prior to my children starting at primary) as the schools are as good as they were when I went (30+ years ago !).

Thank you. It's a tricky one and no easy answer it seems! I think
The secondary near here won't really change much as it has stayed the same for years (possibly actually got marginally worse) It's a big school too which puts me off and that will never alter. I've generally heard ok things about the school but a couple of things have put me off 1) a bit of bullying goes on (but doesn't it everywhere?) and 2) because of its size it basically churns out average grades from all and the top and bottom attainment kids get missedHowever it is still a fairly decent school all things considered so could be being far too fussy.
The alternatives are better state (but who knows they may change - I think schools in London possibly change more significantly than outside though not quite sure why I think that) or grammars (but then the other issue of getting them in in the first place!) I'm really not sure we are ready to make a big decision but have to by Jan!!