feeling ripped off between the commons Post Reply

[blueskies]

we bought our house between the commons a few years ago. we love it here but as everything is so expensive, we paid a lot more than we had originally planned for our house. we have enough money to get by but we don't feel like we have lots of spare cash or savings at the moment.

now the school results have come out - we have been given our 4th choice of school and we're really not happy at all. we thought we'd paid a lot for our house to be in a good catchment area but that didn't work out and it seems that lots of people are happy to cheat the system by renting closer to the school.

for lots of reasons, i can't bear the thought of sending our girls to the 4th choice school. now we're considering private schools for the girls although we really can't afford to do that. private schools will mean years and years of watching every penny we spend and going without our (one) holiday a year. i'm gutted and feel pretty depressed about the whole thing. even moving house is expensive...

we can't be the only ones who think this. i'd love to hear from anyone else in the same situation - what will you do? has anyone else been in this dilema years ago - what did you do - was it worth the financial hardship just to pay private school fees? or has anyone sent their children to a 4th choice school and ended up being happy with the school after all?

I feel so fed up. am i the only person out there who thinks that living between the commons has been too expensive and over hyped?

[excitera]

I'm feeling the same. I really don't understand how those cheaters can get away with this.
Wandsworth council should really concentrate on filtering school application forms instead of closing one'o'clock clubs.

Why can't I as a parent send my children to our local school? it seems absurd that we live in 100m next to 2 good state schools, but I might loose my place to someone short-term renting a room in between the commons and owning a house in Earlsfield. Honestly it is not a secret that many parents do so... !

And Yes we bought between the commons 2 years ago, paying a premium because of schools catchment area...

[supergirl]

Hi

Sadly if you search this site you will see that you are far from being the only one in this situation.
BV and HW are oversuscribed schools with a tiny catchement areas (in some roads it comes down to houses number even!).

regardless of cheating, these schools can't extend their grounds. There has been a babyboom in the area since 2008, a lot of people have 3 children, do the maths!

Just a note about private schools... be careful to not push yourself to far with no buffer at all. Private schools are really expensive because it is not a term you paid for, it is all the other bits: uniforms (most schools have their own suppliers, some are flexible some ask you to buy even the tights from their supplier £7 each instead of £7 for a set of 2 at John Lewis for ex), school trips, some clubs, and all the other not mandatory stuffs that you end up paying for because everybody does, etc
So you could end up having nothing left for a boiler break or for anything on the side (treats, etc).

I dont know which school is your 4th choice. But some schools are really on the up and for ex, High View has very good results and is a feeder of Bollingbroke Academy.

But by all means, stay on the waiting list. It moves. Good luck

[Writerlady]

Hi blueskies
Really feel for you. It is so expensive around here. I am afraid I cannot comment on the state schools as our two go private. However, from reading posts on here, your 4th choice may well be better than you think. There seems to be a lot of gossip about schools being 'bad' which in fact may not be true, or as bad as you think when you visit and research.

I would think very carefully before launching into private schools. I have no regrets and we are very happy but it is very expensive. If you look at the fees now and feel you would be hard-pressed, I can tell you that when it comes to it, it will be even more. Fees increase every year, and there are untold extras, such as uniform, after-school clubs, school trips, music lessons. I would not forego your one family holiday a year. You may have to down-scale it a little but it's important! Private school is great, for many reasons, and while I think it's certainly worth tightening your belt for, it's NOT worth years and years of watching every penny (and it gets worse every year as fees will increase as they get older). If your 4th choice state school does turn out to be not right for your girls, yes, maybe think about selling up and moving a little further away. You have probably made some money on your house too since you have been there. It's amazing how much more you get for your money by moving only half a mile or so. You may then get a great state school, or have more breathing space to pay to go private. Yes, it does cost a lot to move, but it's a one-off cost, which may make sense in the long run.

I am sure others will have some good ideas too.

Good luck, and don't get too disheartened. Either way, you are sitting on a valuable property, and you have choices.

[Midwifemummy13]

How very shallow of you all.

[tamara]

Why shallow?

[Midwifemummy13]

We are all entitled to our opinions! Have a lovely day

[excitera]

Midwifemummy13 well done on deleting your full post.
How very shallow to expect something else being discussed on this forum.

[Midwifemummy13]

I feel for the people who don't get their first or preferred choice of school! But what about the families who don't have any school at all! That's my point.

[excitera]

Yes, how about kids in Africa?...

[Midwifemummy13]

Exactly like I said I feel for any children & their families who don't get their preferred choice not just with schools but life in general!!!!

Have a lovely day everyone

Keep smiling!!

[excitera]

Midwifemummy13 I do acknowledge the fact is not a major issue, and life will go on with whenever school you kid goes to.
But can't stop feeling angry that my kid will miss out on local school because of Wandsworth incompetency on checking whenever rent is long term or short, or if the family renting in catchment area and owning the house somewhere else as well.
A bit sad all that.

[Midwifemummy13]

I 100% agree that Wandsworth council don't check weather families are short term renting just for schools! I personally know many a family that has done this both for primary & secondary schools (mostly between the commons) I do feel it would be ideal to attend your local school & make friends locally too but unfortunately the council don't seem to really care do they! If everyone gave all schools the best possible chance we wouldn't have such a divide of schools would we!

I hope you get your school.

[excitera]

Midwifemummy13 thank you
We are 328m away, so chances are low. But all our neighbours kids somehow managed to secure a place.

[Scottov]

Midwifemummy13 I do acknowledge the fact is not a major issue, and life will go on with whenever school you kid goes to.
But can't stop feeling angry that my kid will miss out on local school because of Wandsworth incompetency on checking whenever rent is long term or short, or if the family renting in catchment area and owning the house somewhere else as well.
A bit sad all that.

I suspect that is more rumour than fact