Why don't out of catchments move to catchment;

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Preston
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:51 pm

Why don't out of catchments move to catchment;

Post by Preston »

Not sure if this has been covered before but for Rugby grammar schools in particular I find it extremely odd that so many Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and South Warwickshire familes do not wish to move to the Rugby priority catchement area, especially when they have one or more children trying to get into the grammar schools.

Rugby has a large range of housing.
The distances aren't that insolube .(No problems getting to work, still reasonably close to friends etc)

Why can't they just MOVE, if they feel so strongly about getting their kids into LS and RHS?

Such an obvious solution, yet seldom commented on. :? :? :?
ourmaminhavana
Posts: 966
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:14 am

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by ourmaminhavana »

Maybe they have siblings at fab. primary schools, jobs, elderly relatives...
hermanmunster
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Location: The Seaside

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by hermanmunster »

Indeed! .... not always easy for people to move, can be expensive ... etc etc . Also one of the problems of areas with GS is that the "alternate school" isn't always a good option if they don;t pass for the GS. Have a look at Skipton for example - lots of people outside catchment have the same problems of trying to get in but if you live in the patch the local secondary is not great.
Preston
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:51 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by Preston »

Yeah, points taken.

I guess it just depends what age your children are. If both pre-schoolers, with no elderly/infirm relatives to look after then it is the obvious thing to. (There are numerous fab primary schools in and around Rugby).

I suppose the only major concern, mentioned already, is the state of the second options. Many rave about the high quality of a couple of comprehensives in Rugby (better not name them), but I do have concerns with '3'%! achieving the English Bacc (5 A-C GCSE passes in Eng, Maths, Sci, Language and Hist or Geog), or merely 40% 5 A-C's including Maths and English.

I used to teach in Birmingham; at least the secondaries round here don't have policeman stationed on site of senior teachers patrolling the corridors during lessons with walkie-talkies.

But still, that 3%. Worrying, very.
fed up
Posts: 160
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:55 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by fed up »

We have considered (and are considering) moving.

But: we like our house, have great neighbours, many village ties, like the primary school, older children happy and settled with friends, etc.

Also it's a lot of pressure to put on a child, to move in the hope that s/he passes a test.

It doesn't help that the boundaries are constantly shifting (look at RHS's current consultation). I don't feel that we know where we are until this consultation is over, and by then we've only got till Feb 5th to move. I am so sick of the whole thing.
Rugbymum
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by Rugbymum »

House prices - I know of families who cannot afford the move and if they do move they will have to downsize, not always practical when you have children about to turn into teenagers :?

I know the comp you refer to - it takes in children from two deprived parts of Rugby which probably explains their results. I also think their focus on performing arts and vocational courses has meant traditional subjects are not being taken up as GCSE options.
Preston
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:51 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by Preston »

Interesting; I thought Rugby would have 'cheaper' housing than either Northamptonshire, South Leicestershire or South Warwickshire? :?

And I do find it depressing that it is now a given that coming from a deprived environment means your chances of having the privilege of studying an academic curriculum are next to zero.

What would set Rugby alight is a new free school. I shall research further.
Rugbymum
Posts: 349
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:05 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by Rugbymum »

If you look at the local paper, you will see that house prices in areas within the inner priority circle and near good primary schools are higher than those in Lutterworth, Kilsby/Barby, Daventry & Coventry....
I have also noticed that a large number of houses for sale are from these areas so maybe families are trying to move into Rugby but with the recession things are moving very slowly.

House prices in South Warwickshire are higher than Rugby - this area falls into the priority circle for the Stratford/Alcester grammar schools.

I think Rugby's problem is that comps are left to educate those not creamed off by the grammar schools. However with 20,000 new houses in the pipeline along with new secondary schools, I would be interested to see if things will change - this seems to be happening with Bilton School due to neighbouring Cawston Grange bringing in new families to their catchment area.
magwich2
Posts: 866
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:33 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by magwich2 »

There are other options - renting or house swaps - these don't need to be for the rest of the century just reasonably permanent. Needn't cost the earth either - tenancy document pro forma freely available!!
Preston
Posts: 65
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:51 pm

Re: Why o Why don't out of catchments move TO catchment;

Post by Preston »

Good points Rugbymum. I need to study the housing market a bit more closely :oops:

Do you know anything about the new secondary school? Where, what specialisms etc?
It's going to be very interesting indeed to see how all secondaries in the area fare under the the new Ofsted inspection framework coming in September.

Back to my original point though; I assume a goodish % of the new houses being built will be 'affordable'. Probably a law that says they have to be. If so, might we be back fairly soon to the nice and straightforward Rugby Schools for Rugby children, period?
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