Really boring poncey dilemma about houses and schools. Please help.

[PeachesMcLean]

I can't believe I've turned into a woman who writes a thread like this. I've also read this thread, hoping to find the answer, but frankly it's not helping. I still can't decide what to do and need some practical suggestions, please!

Not an unusual story: we're moving house and really really want to go to a lovely part of Cardiff. Beautiful old houses, trees, lots of playing out space, good shops, really lovely atmosphere. One problem, crap schools. The local comp is failing and the council want to close it. The alternative is a Church in Wales school with a good reputation. So do we join the other parents (I'm sure there are several) and start going to church to get him in there? Generally, I only go in churches to look at the architecture, DS isn't even christened.

Now, if the council gets its way with a rewriting of the catchment areas, our dream house will become catchment area for a very good state school. So all would be well. But that's a risk because the last council plan got thrown out. Or, DS could stay in his current lovely primary, which is fairly local to the dream house but there wouldn't be any other kids nearby who go there, and then he could go to the secondary that his school feeds into. Its reputation has been fairly average I think but it's had an excellent inspection report recently. However, I really want him to have school friends that live locally.

And, DS is only 6, so am I getting my knickers in a twist about something that's a long way off and all the schools could change anyway in that timeframe?

So, what do I do?
a) start going to church? And if so, how often do you have to go and for how many years (school admission policy doesn't specify - I think they're not very strict)
b) live in hope that the council will change the catchment areas after all
c) stick with the lovely primary / ok secondary across town
d) choose to live somewhere which isn't nearly as nice but has good schools (don't want to live anywhere else. Feel like sulking at the thought)

Anyone still awake after that? Sorry so long and complicated, I hope someone manages to work their way through it!

[lljkk]

Peaches: your DS is only 6. If it were me I would not move now and forget all about the rest for another 3 years. Then reassess.

If you really want to move house regardless of school situation, and just can't get your ds into school local to new house, then what Theodore's mummy said.

[PeachesMcLean]

Xenia you've made me laugh, and from that perspective, church is a Very Good Thing! Suspect only a bolt of lightening would help me find God, although he's a very nice idea and I'm sometimes tempted (drove past lovely church open day thing yesterday, looked very sweet) But then I have a cup of tea and all is back to normal.

Can't learn Welsh. Brain's full. Haven't read a book since Lloyd George was a boy for same reason (that's bad isn't it). Play music though,work full time (stressful) trying to learn a bit of italian. Can't find space for anything else.

House is full too. We've decluttered often and it's still full. We also need another bedroom - only got two here and my mother has to sleep in the front room when she comes to visit, for a week at a time, which is only going to be more often as DS is in school and she helps out with the holidays.

I'm a tight old lefty and wouldn't shell out for private. And there's still my "local children all at the local school" ideal, which private wouldn't deliver.

I love you all for coming along and trying to sort me out, though. But if you lot carry on making interesting suggestions I'll be posting links to houses for you to check out! Anyone fancy house hunting with me???

[Fillyjonk]

you dont NEED any welsh to send your ds to a welsh school

i know plenty of people who have kids at welsh schools who have zip interest in learning

[PeachesMcLean]

I know people who are planning to do that too, but don't know how they plan on keeping up with what their children are learning. Call me nosey and a bit of an anorak, but I'm looking forward to checking out DS's books...

Also, I'm not sure we could successfully carry off sending DS to a new, Welsh language, school when he's nearly at the end of year 1 and doesn't know any more than colours, numbers, etc in Welsh. I don't think he'd be happy about that unless we were really really positive, and if we're not learning ourselves, or able to help him out, we wouldn't be any support to him. So perhaps we've missed that boat.

[marialuisa]

Yes, you may be right about it being too late for Welsh medium (although the shiny new school that covers your chosen area might not be as worried as more established schools). Most of our friends do not speak any Welsh, certainly in Cardiff it's the norm for kids in Welsh medium schools to NOT have either parent speaking Welsh but the parents tend to have made the decision to go down the Welsh route early on and put them through nursery at their chosen school.

Have to say I disagree that there are no decent private schools in Cardiff (I think I visited every secondary in Cardiff for work) but if that's not your thing, fair enough.

The other thing to bear in mind is the falling roles and if you don't mind putting DS on a bus when he gets to secondary you may be surprised where has spaces. you're hardly in the middle of nowhere so I don't believe the social argument really holds for older kids.

Good luck, we'd move back in a flash if we could!

[Fillyjonk]

what private schools do you think are decent?

(genuine q)

[marialuisa]

Bearing in mind that I was an external person going in to work with the kids and staff (so not looking at value for money, exam results,buildings etc.)but with one eye on where might do for DD, both Kings Monkton and St John's were really nice places. I was really impressed with the pupils and staff. I have to admit that the more obvious places, Howells and Cathedral, left me cold, Howells sixth-formers were incredibly rude and not as clever as they thought they were (well, the ones i met!)

[Fillyjonk]

oh really, kings monkton was good?

(am another tight lefty peachy but..ok my take on it, no offence, is that the difference between moving to an expensive area for a good school and staying in a less expensive area and paying fees is, tbh, just cosmetic. Both ways you are using money to buy a better education. Sorry)

[noddyholder]

I think it is more important to get the primary school right for now as things change as you know in education and catchments etc.

[marialuisa]

yes, KM had a lovely feel to it, although obviously not as fabulously kitted out as some places.

But you may not want to read too much into it. We had a fantastic time with the staff and kids at Fizalan. Unfortunately the "no weapons in school" notices and a few other things still made me slightly on edge there, but lovely kids.

[Fillyjonk]

oh GOD though

have just been on fish4 etc looking at ch catchment area schools

GOD the houses are VILE.

[PeachesMcLean]

No offence taken at all filly. It's a fair argument. And I agree completely about the scarey houses I think you probably mean, near the lake??? Aaaaghhh!

at Fitzalan! Crikey! And very interesting comments re the privates. thanks ML.

So Filly, what are YOUR plans? You've still got time to do Welsh medium, haven't you??