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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Would a special measures secondary put you off buying even though DS isn't even school age yet?

20 replies

waybuloony · 02/08/2012 17:57

It's a beautiful house in what seems to be a nice village with a grade 1 ofsted primary but the local secondary is currently in special measures. Would you move there?

OP posts:

MonsPubis · 02/08/2012 18:03

Depends on other schools in the area and the chances of getting into one of those. As back up I would only buy if I could afford the indie fees.

mumblechum1 · 02/08/2012 18:06

No, because an awful lot can change in 10 years or however long we're talking. You could move, get divorced, meet someone else, emigrate, the school could massively improve etc etc

OddBoots · 02/08/2012 18:07

Nope, my ds's school was in SM only 5 years ago, it became good a year before he started and when he had been there a year became outstanding and is a fantastic school now. On the other side of town a school has done the reverse and has gone from outstanding to SM in a few yeas.

It is far too soon to worry about what a school is, it can change either way and may mean your chosen house is cheaper now as a result.

ColouringIn · 02/08/2012 18:11

The school DS will attend at secondary level was in SM just 7 years ago and is now outstanding and very oversubscribed.

DS has SN and a Statement so will get a place if I opt for it. I am thankful I will not have to fight for his place.

Original poster

waybuloony · 02/08/2012 18:12

Alas, indie fees are extremely unlikely. Other good school in the area is selective so it would be a big gamble...

It's the main reason the vendor is selling which I suppose is a sign but he wouldn't start for another 8 years and surely that is plenty long enough for things to change....can you tell I really like the house!

OP posts:

Tommy · 02/08/2012 18:15

the school where I work and the DSs will go was in SM 5 years ago and is now "good with outstandning features"
So much can happen in a school over a few years - go for it!

Ingles2 · 02/08/2012 18:15

If the school is in special measures now, it will be getting plenty of support/finance to turn itself around.. By the time your dc is at secondary, it will be a totally different school.
Go for it

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 02/08/2012 18:16

If its SM now, in a way its chances of being very good in ten years time are probably higher than if outstanding, because a very close eye will be on it.

I'd watch and wait a while.

FelicitywasSarca · 02/08/2012 18:19

8 years? The school will be unrecognisable by then. No it wouldn't put me off.

If I already had secondary age DCs then yes it would.

Moshlingmummy · 02/08/2012 18:21

Personally I would look at its past form, has it ever been a good school, or has it always been up and down, or permenantly down...

Original poster

waybuloony · 02/08/2012 18:30

Yes apparently 15 years ago it was the school to go to in the area.

I'm feeling a lot more optimistic now. I hadn't really considered what special measures meant but naturally it means that the only way is up.

OP posts:

Saracen · 03/08/2012 23:10

Even if I knew the secondary was going to be awful when my child reached 11, I'd still buy the house in a heartbeat. If you like the village and the primary school then that is what counts right now. There's plenty of time to move house later if necessary.

cricketballs · 04/08/2012 11:44

I have worked in a school in SM (as an NQT firstly but stayed for 6 years!) The support that the school receives is immense. Advisors from all aspects of education are drafted in, policies changed, teaching methods changed etc.

It usually results in a school that becomes top of their game (especially as the pressure of being in SM means that the staff don't want to go there again ) rather than resting on their laurels

I would also add that so much can (and will) change in the next 8 years which will affect every school in the country that I would not be worried.

TalkinPeace2 · 04/08/2012 12:17

NB
Academy schools DO NOT get LEA help when put into special measures
and the 'agency' in charge of standards at Academies has just had its accounts and systems slagged off by the National Audit Office.
BE WARNED

OddBoots · 04/08/2012 12:56

Very true, I would certainly think twice about moving into the catchment of an academy school and I'm usually quite laid back about schools.

TalkinPeace2 · 04/08/2012 13:05

Oddboots
A bit tricky considering nearly 3/4 of secondary schools (including many grammars) will be academies by September 1st ....

OddBoots · 04/08/2012 14:43

That's very scary TalkinPeace - I'm glad it's not the case with my local one.

TalkinPeace2 · 04/08/2012 15:18

Have you checked .... there is VERY little publicity given to such things.

OddBoots · 04/08/2012 16:36

I have, it has foundation status and the head is very against changing that.

CointreauVersial · 05/08/2012 22:24

It depends hugely on why it is in special measures and how good the chances are that it can pull itself out.

There are two schools local to here that are/were in SM; one is in a lovely area, nice facilities, and has been failing mainly because of poor leadership, and now the head has gone it is improving all the time. The other one is in a deprived area, is run-down, has poor morale/standards amongst staff and has been bumping along the bottom for years with a lot of problems. I would certainly consider the first one, but not the second.

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