Advice on choosing primary school based on secondary school it feeds into?

[PoppyT]

We live near a good primary school which is next to an outstanding church primary school. The outstanding church school is oversubscribed & as we don't attend church & DC aren't christened we have no chance of getting in. We are more than happy with the good primary school, however it feeds into a secondary school which is round the corner from our house & has bad reports. The church school feeds into a church secondary school which is best in area.

When we mention we're sending DC to the good primary school people seem confused that we aren't going to the church school & a few people have commented that we are making bad decision because our DC will end up at the secondary school which is seen as poor.

We currently live in small 2 bed house & are saving to move but won't be for another 5 years realistically. This means we could move nearer to a better secondary school that we fit the criteria for OR that in this time the local secondary school could completely change. DC won't be starting secondary school for another 7 years. I guess there's also the chance we won't be able to move if property market goes crazy again & we could be stuck here & have to hope we can get in a secondary school within borough if our local one remains the same.

I'm just looking for advice on whether anyone else has similar situation. I'm not worried about our primary choice & know it totally suits us as a family but I'm fed up of having to explain my decision. All the parents that have chosen the church school in my circle of friends have attended church then stopped as soon as they got the place at school - this was something me & my husband discussed but we decided not to do as we were happy with local primary.

Is it too soon to be even thinking of secondary schools or should I have thought of this before decision was made. It's all so confusing!
Any advice would be appreciated..

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

I wouldn't chose a primary school based in a secondary school as anything could happen in the years before your DC gets to year 7.
Boundaries and catchment areas can change, staff and head teachers can change, new housing estates can change the demographics if an area, you might need to move again, I could go on.
Worry about the secondary school nearer the time.

[BackforGood]

Same here - worry about it 3 yrs down the line.

Are you certain that the admission criteria for the secondary depends on which Primary you have been to ? I'd double check that before worrying any further.

[VelvetEmbers]

I was really worried when we moved here 4 years ago because the local secondary school was dire.

After going into Special Measures and being put under another Head, now it has really improved and apparently this year 100% of the Y6s from the 3 local primaries are all going there. The "better" schools further afield they were all going to before have really gone downhill in the last couple of years.

You really can't be worrying about secondary until much nearer the time. So much can change (and does).

[PoppyT]

Thank you for your reply & for talking sense to me, think that's what I needed.

You're right a lot can & probably will change in 7 years. Going to stick to my decision & try to ignore everyone

[PoppyT]

I don't believe it's as clear cut as which primary you attend but I think it works that way with the church school so they all assume it's the same for every school.

Having looked at primary booklet the kids go to 3 different high schools so I think it depends on where you live more than your primary school.

[Toohotforfishandchips]

The secondary schools admissions info will tell you if there are actually feeder schools