Schools and house moving dilemma - what's the solution

Fly_Baby

Hello. We are looking to buy our first house and have a 7-year old. In 3 year's time I will have to apply for a place in a secondary school for him and that's where the problem arises.

Right now we rent in an OK area - which happens to be the only area in our town with two good state schools (outstanding by ofsted). There is another school (good by ofsted) in another area. And three more schools (satisfactory by ofsted) in all other areas. Hope it makes sense so far.

The problem is despite us being able to borrow up to 310K (with 80K deposit) there is nothing decent for this money in the area with good schools. We are looking for a 3-bed semi. We love our rented house and everything which is for sale is much smaller, with smaller gardens, smaller living room and much more expensive at that in mortgage payments than what we are paying in rent.

We have seen a few truly beutiful houses in the area with crap schools - the houses are big, great gardens, more bedrooms. The area is not bad, there are some very expensive streets in it - but not a single acceptable secondary school.

What shall we do - what do you think?

I am so dissapointed that I was even thinking: can we buy the house we like in the area with crap schools and then, come 3 years, rent something in the area with good schools and use that address as the child's address in the new school applications? Renting a flat for a year is likely to be about 9-10K but it is still cheaper than the difference in house prices.

Is that an option? And any opinions on our situation please?

Fly_Baby

Forgot to say, that we also have a younger child of a different sex so a 2-bed property (could be cheaper) is hardly an option, if we are thinking a long-term family home.

Fly_Baby

Come on, people, 40 views and not a single opinion? Please, I feel really lost.

angel223_2

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Fly_Baby

angel223 wrote: »

I do know that some people have been caught out renting a second home / or using nans address etc in the area of a good school and the kids have ended up being removed from the school for this. It can vary from area to area but around my DD high school they are hot on this topic as so many have done it in the past.
Living in the catchment area doesnt guarantee a place at the good school either (though chances are higher) the high school my DD will be attending in fact have turned away alot af kids for this comming september as application numbers were so high. We are quite far out of catchment and yet my DD got accepted as they do need to take a very small % from out of catchment area and we got lucky (im in wales though so may be different for you)

Thanks. The school in question has the main criterion as being the nearest school to the home address so I understand that everybody who fits this description will get a place.

The desired house is only 1.8 miles from this school but when I rang up their admissions they said that because there is another school, nearer to the house, then that's what my child will be given.

Keep renting and hoping that something comes up?

Allegra

What is the admittance policy for the secondary schools in your town ? Where we are, only 10% of the places are awarded on proximity, which means that for me there would be no question in your situation - I'd go for a nice house rather than gamble on a proximity place.

My friend who lives in the neighbouring county though still has a three-tier system and admittance is strictly catchment area. They moved recently specifically so her daughter would get a place in a good school.

Bear in mind also that Ofsted reports are not the be all and end all of school quality - children can still get left behind and get bullied in "good" schools, or they can shine in a "bad" school if they happen upon an inspirational teacher or have supportive friends. Having said that, sometimes there just are schools that we would not send our kids to under any circumstances - visiting the schools, though, is a far better indicator of that than an Ofsted report, in my limited experience.

Fly_Baby

Allegra wrote: »

What is the admittance policy for the secondary schools in your town ? Where we are, only 10% of the places are awarded on proximity, which means that for me there would be no question in your situation - I'd go for a nice house rather than gamble on a proximity place.

Well, one of the two good schools allocate places based on being the nearest school to the child's address (that's apart from siblings and looked-after children).

The other one is a faith school and they do have 10 levels in admissions. But last year, for example, all places were gone at criteria No 5 (children from feeder schools). My child goes to a faith school but not to a feeder one, so he would only fit the criterion 6 (children of a Christian denomination and attending other faith schools) - and as I said noone was accepted under this criterion last year.

As for the "bad" school - it really is bad, it is infamous for being bad.

**confuzzled**

OP what area are you currently living in/are looking to move to?? There may be a few posters here with some local knowledge and you never know your luck...one of them could be an estate agent;):)

Could you have a word with your Landlord and see if they'd be willing to sell(you did mention you liked the rented house:)) or if they know of anyone wanting to sell?

Fly_Baby

**confuzzled** wrote: »

Could you have a word with your Landlord and see if they'd be willing to sell(you did mention you liked the rented house:)) or if they know of anyone wanting to sell?

I would just love to buy the house we rent! But when we moved in the landlord said that we could live there for as long as we wanted and they were not intending to sell it.

I am kind of wary that if we mention our interest the landlord will understand that we are shopping and might find new tenants before we find a place to buy.

peachyprice

Why are you wanting to move out of your rented?

There seems to be plenty of reasons to stay if you can i.e. good size, cheaper than mortgage, guaranteed good school, so what's pushing you to buy at this moment in time?

TBH, if it was me, and I was happy renting, and I really wanted the best school, I would stay put until the first was at least in secondary school, assuming sibling places are high priority.

In the meantime save the difference you would be paying between rent and mortgage plus your usual savings, then when the time is right you'll be able to afford the right size house in the right area, or have a lower mortgage.

IMO home ownership isn't the be all and end all if it means sacrifices in other important areas.

Allegra

I guess if the school really is that bad, then you need to do whatever is necessary to avoid the kids ending up there. Whether that means buying an inferior house in a desired area, or continue renting until the kids have got their places, that's your call.

Good luck, anyway