Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

To downsize for a better school

31 replies

Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 00:03

We live in a nice enough area, but our local high school is quite far down the league tables. We could move into a neighbouring area with really fantastic schools but we would have to downsize from a detached to a smaller semi. My dd is in p6 in primary so have a bit of time to make the decision.
Just wondering what fellow parents would do?
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 15/11/2020 09:19

I’m not sure how the Scottish system works (is p6 equal to age 6)?
However, on principle I’d be keen on the best school possible. That would mean looking into moving or going private. Depending on house prices and moving costs, you might find that it’s easier to just pay school fees for several years.

pickledplumjam · 15/11/2020 09:32

I'd move for a better school every time. But I'd wait until you can go ok in person tours again so you know what you're moving for. I'd also see how long the head has been at the school you're looking at and how likely he/she is to leave soon.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 09:59

P6 is the second last year of primary, my daughter is 10. She really wants to go to high-school with her friend.

OP posts:
Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 10:17

Should add we would be much better off financially moving home as oppose to paying for a private school.

OP posts:
pickledplumjam · 15/11/2020 11:54

Friends change in secondary. It's really unlikely they would stay in the same group. She could always see her at the weekends. I really wouldn't make a school choice based on a friendship. She's too young to realise that though.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 12:27

Thanks for all your comments. My husband thinks we would regret going from a detached house to a semi. The area we would be moving to the semis cost more than our current house. Some of them are a really good size as well.

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 15/11/2020 14:02

It’s not that easy. We’re in a detached now and used to live in a semi. We were very happy in the semi and found it quiet. Having said that, now that we’re in a detached property, I’d also struggle to get my head round to moving to an attached house.

If the property prices aren’t crazy, then moving houses into catchment does make more financial sense than paying fees. I probably would as long as the semis have decent sq footage and go for halls-adjoining so it’s hallways/box rooms next to each other rather than the sitting room or master bedroom. That should be a much quieter option.

HelloDulling · 15/11/2020 14:07

I would def move for a better school.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 14:28

I've had a few comments from friends who think I'm crazy for even thinking of moving for school. I thought this was common for parents to consider! We all live in new builds in the same area and I've had comments like I wouldn't move into an older semi. However, the area we would be moving to is nice and I think the house would be a good investment financially.

OP posts:
GrammarHopeful · 15/11/2020 14:33

Provided it's actually feasible, I would move for the right education for my DCs every time. However, I am not surprised some won't, as not everyone values good education in the same way.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/11/2020 14:37

We've just chosen to buy a 3 bed semi in a good school catchment over a 4 bed detached in an okish catchment.

pickledplumjam · 15/11/2020 14:37

Could you rent out your house and rent a place in catchment? You could always move back when she's done with school.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 15:28

If she went to the school I would want to live there for her to have friends locally. Thanks for the replies everyone. I don't feel I'm so crazy in thinking that is would possibly be a wise move.

OP posts:
Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 15:29

Oh see what you mean pickledplumjam. I am not that in love with my current house that I wouldn't mind not moving back.

OP posts:
HitchikersGuide · 15/11/2020 15:44

I would choose school over house, certainly if the move was at the point where everyone's moving and will be making new friends. Just seems to me that a better education is more important than a bigger house.
I think that as well as people genuinely having different views, sometimes people get a bit defensive about their own choices (remembering back to the 11+, a lot of parents went a bit nutty and could be pretty rude about other people's choices! It's just the stress of wanting to make the right decision.)

Meredusoleil · 15/11/2020 15:45

This is most likely what we would have had to do if we had agreed a sale on our house last year!

Except our downsizing would probably have been from a 3/4 bed semi to a 2/3 bed terraced.

Our other alternative, which is the one we were planning to go with, was to get a similar size house but take n a bigger mortgage as the are we would have moved to cost more.

In the end, we decided the sacrifice and upheaval was too much just because of the school, even though our dd's education is of utmost importance to us.

We have stayed put and dd goes to a fab school that is quite local instead of the best school that we live too far away for.

Just as well really, as dh got made redundant a few months ago, so we wouldn't have been able to afford a higher mortgage repayment 😉

TagMeQuick · 15/11/2020 15:48

Sounds like it could be a good idea. Find the very best school and find a house local to that! No point moving for second best. Find the best! Then I would think it was worth it.

Of course things can change like head teachers etc and that can have an impact so find out how long the head has been there etc and how attached they are to the school, where they taught before, things like that and also where do the leavers go, the children, afterwards.

whiteroseredrose · 15/11/2020 15:59

Is the area also nicer?

I'd rather have a smaller semi in a really nice are than a big detached in a not as nice area.

However, bear in mind that schools and catchment areas can change.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 16:15

It's a really nice area. So the difference in schools is over 150 places in league tables. The school I am considering is in the top 10 in Scotland.

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 15/11/2020 16:19

Post in Scotsnet, especially if you don't mind naming the areas/schools.

IHaveBrilloHair · 15/11/2020 16:20

Gosh, that sounded like an order, I didn't mean it to!
You'll possibly get more knowledgeable advice is what I meant.

JoJoSM2 · 15/11/2020 18:25

Top 10 in Scotland sounds like a top top school so easy to see why you’d want to move.

Original poster
Glasgowgirl4 · 15/11/2020 20:06

My daughter is very shy and doesn't really like change so I am thinking if we move to put her into a feeder school her last year of primary. So she will know people when she goes to high school. I don't like the idea of dropping her off at a school of 1500 where she knows no one.

OP posts:
Susanwouldntlikeit · 15/11/2020 20:08

We moved twice for better schools. Yes /do it.

Meredusoleil · 15/11/2020 20:58

@Glasgowgirl4

My daughter is very shy and doesn't really like change so I am thinking if we move to put her into a feeder school her last year of primary. So she will know people when she goes to high school. I don't like the idea of dropping her off at a school of 1500 where she knows no one.
Soubds like a good plan 👍
Swipe left for the next trending thread