Would you move for a better school?

oligeo

My kids are currently at a good primary school, we live in a nice area and have lots of friends nearby, however secondary school is fast approaching.

Would you move so your kids could get into a secondary with good results but they'd know nobody, or stay where you are so they'd go to a secondary where the majority of their school mates would be going but it currently has poor results.

The secondary that currently has poor results has had a head change and there have been changes made, but the fruition of this probably won't be seen in the exam results for quite some time.

My kids are far from stupid, so I'd like to think that even at a 'bad' school they would be getting good results, but I can't help feeling I owe it to them to get them into a better school, where they could potentially get even better results.

Sorry for my confused ramblings but its a pretty big thing thats on my mind right now, so anybody thats been through similar things and has any words of advice, it would be much appreciated, many thanks.

Northern_Princess

I was lucky in that the local secondary school is great. If I had to move for a better secondary, yes I would have and have had numerous friends who have done just that.

Person_one

Don't underestimate how hard it can be for a child to settle in and perform to their best at a new school where they don't know a soul and everybody else is with their old primary friends. Some will be fine but some will find it very hard and feel isolated for a long time, possibly even becoming a target for bullies.

The new head may well get results a lot quicker than you think too, school's reputations can turn around (either way) within a few short years.

oligeo

Thats my worry Person_one, eldest DS has a close circle of a few friends whom he has had since nursery, he does not like to be in new/unkown situations - will never volunteer for things at school where he has to speak out - he is just like I was as a child, we have tried things to boost his confidence etc, but you can't change thats just how he is. I'd hate to make him miserable going to a school where he knows no-one.

Person_one

Have you talked to your son about it? I think children of 10/11 are old enough to be involved in this kind of decision about their lives.

WantToBeSE

Yes, i would, and i HAVE!
We have moved just down the road to a LOVELY secondary academy school, with outstanding ofsted reports, supportive and helpful teachers. No doubt for a second that i made the right decision.
Was a binus that the Primary school was also brilliant, for my youngest son.

gingin_2

Good schools were our big priority and I have no regrets, despite having to make a few sacrifices to do so.

It's hard if your son is more shy but I have found that my son's new friends (year 8, he started last year) are all from different primarys, despite most of his class going to the same school.

It's not only good exam results, for us it was also about the ethos of the school, the enthusiasm of the staff, the extra-curricular activities, the interaction with the parents. We have one that ticked all the boxes and I wouldn't move until my children are past school age now for anything. It's just huge peace of mind for me as a parent but I do realise we are lucky to have been in a position to be able to do so.

maman

I know it varies across the country but it's not always necessary to move to get into another school. It depends on the birthrate when your children were born, how far out of catchment you live etc.

That being said, I agree with you that while results may be poor compared with other schools some children are obviously passing the requisite exams and yours could be amongst them. There will be lots of potential changes in league tables soon as Mr Gove is insisting that they're based on 'hard' GCSEs. If I were you I'd have a good look around your local school and if you're happy go for it. Then you can lean on the school afterwards if you're not happy with homework, marking or whatever.

oligeo

Thanks for all your comments.
Person_one - son would not move given the choice.
I think we are going to go and look around alot of schools this year, as its nearly time for all their open evenings, even though its not this year we need to actually decide. If we leave it until we need to be making a decision it would be too late to move house, and we would definately need to move to get into another secondary school.

Erinnire

I would move without a doubt, Ive managed to get my eldest into a better primary school out of catchment to where we are currently living and hope that she will do well enough there to pass the entry exams into the grammer schools.there is an array of high schools where we are and most of them are shockingly poor. Aslong as we could afford it I would move closer to the better high schools to have a better chance of getting her into one of them.

We are looking to move anyway and may move primary schools if possible as well to an even better school.

choccybuttons

No I wouldn't. I went to a not so great secondary and still got good results. I did way better at uni than some of my friends who had gone to 'good' schools as they had no self motivation and had always been pushed.