Is it too early to think about schools?

[BumbleBerries]

We're looking to buy and have found a lovely house, except the area isn't ideal.

It's an alright town, not great but I think I'd be happy enough there. My main worry is the secondary schools in the area - they just aren't very good. And I don't know if I'm being unreasonable letting that hold me back given my baby's not even at primary yet.

We've been looking for over a year so my idea of reasonable might be getting skewed, but everyone always says by for the location which we really wouldn't be doing here.

Too early. Schools can turn around/go down hill in a couple of years. How old is your baby?

A house can be improved (by you) an area can't. The school might get better but the catchment is likely to stay the same. If you can see it as a short term house and are happy with the primary then go for it!

My experience (primary age dc) is that as soon as they started primary and forming friendship groups, I felt increasingly tied to the area and the feed in schools. Obviously children can and do move and make new friends, but it’s a big upheaval once they are settled

I agree with Ian.

We chose area based on location which included schools both primary and secondary, though less secondary. This was pre DC. I am so glad we did. Moving is hard and not guaranteed. If you have more than one child then when you move will disrupt schooling for someone. Obviously people (children) overcome this, but it is not ideal. Life is imperfect, make the most of your circumstances as you find them when you arrive, but if you can chose now, then do your best now. Why wouldn't you?

YY to comment that houses can be improved but area can't (within your immediate control).

I've just moved with primary age children due to crap secondary schools looming. I found this move harder than my last move which was from one side of the world to the other. And it's the children and their happiness that has added this stress.

If you can plan ahead, do.

I am looking to move with 2 DC and my area choice is at least 50% based on schools but my focus has mainly been primary as eldest is starting this yr. While roots and friendship I am sure will add to stress I would 99% move if I found that s. schools locally were not good enough. Add to this there is a 4 yr gap between them. But then again from the start I am viewing this house move as somewhere for a few years.

That said I may think differently if I found a really amazing property..... but still.......

Looks like we won't be moving just yet then. School's unlikely to change much for various reasons, so we would be looking to move again which most of you seem to think won't be easy.
Pity, but better then regretting the decision in several years time.

We bought an alright house in an alright area and use the extra money to privately educate. Could that be an option?

I agree with @Twogirls - schools change marginally due to head / income etc but the major factor of a school's success is the demographic of the children who attend. That's unlikely to change in 7 or 8 years.

We moved (prior to children starting school) to an area with outstanding schools at primary and secondary so 1. We wouldn't have to disrupt the children's education / friendship groups etc but also 2. To avoid the cost of moving twice - just on EA commission / fees / stamp duty it is likely to be thousands of pounds.

Never too early to think about schools. If you are in place for both primary & secondary it takes away a lot of stress at having to move when you may not be in a position to in the future.

As others have said - the schools reflect the area they are in.

Go for the right area now with pref' good Primary and Secondary schools if you can.

Moving's tough and the schooling years whizz by at an alarming rate. We made our closest friends at the Primary school gate too, and our son's going into 6th form soon with same 2 mates he made in Reception, and we're close to the boy's families.

Definitely go with an area that has good schools. I've moved a few times to fit in with schools and its a nightmare. Your child's education is the most important thing (in my opinion) and if this house is one you want to remain in for years, make the catchment area high on your priority list.

Too early to think about secondary schools, by the time your baby is a teenager you might be millionaires shipping him off to Harrow so it really won't matter where you live. Also the schools in your area will change a lot in that time in some cases. Or you might end up moving overseas. Or the world might end. You are thinking too far ahead. Focus on finding a good primary and think and secondary when the tone comes.

Depends on the schools and what you would settle with. My baby is still a baby, and I would want to move somewhere which at least has "good" secondary schools - there's a small decent secondary school where I'm looking, and I like the vibe. So hopefully it will do if I haven't been able to move by then.

But I wouldn't go out of my way to move to somewhere with "outstanding" secondary schools at this age.

On the other hand, wouldn't move to somewhere with awful secondary schools either - my parents did that when we were pre-school age, and it ended up being a nightmare.