Local primary or out of catchment?

I’m not sure what to do…looking for opinions please! Our local primary is very good but feeds into an average high school - we are also in catchment for this high school. The other two primary schools I’m considering applying for are also very good but feed into a different high school from our catchment area but it is the best high school in the area. I think from looking into the admissions criteria of the better high school if my child was to go to one of their partner primary schools she would have a very good chance of getting a place, especially as birth rates are dropping in the area. Which primary would you apply for? The local one you could walk to which is very good but feeds into an average high school or apply for the out of catchment primary with the plan of getting her into the best high school (also out of catchment)? We would consider moving house closer to high school age to guarantee her a spot although would be sad to leave our house.

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I wouldn’t worry about high schools yet they good higher school might be good now but that’s not to say in 7yrs that it will be, new headteachers new teaching staff etc and vice versa for the not so great high school

Totally agree with Laura, make your decision based on the primary you like because so much is likely to change. I’d pick the very good local primary if I preferred it over the ones further away.

That high school has many years to change from the best around to the worst. When applying, think about how good that school is for your 4yr old and not about what school it feeds into :)

Even though the high school has been the best performing for 20+ years and if I did still want to send her there she’d have to (most likely) leave all her primary school friends?

Yep. I left almost all of my primary school friends when I went to secondary, it’s fairly common if there’s multiple choices in the area. And the ones I did go with, after the initial weeks of settling in, I didn’t really stay friends with anyway.

Yes she would be fine! I didn't leave my friends but because there were so many different schools feeding into my secondary, I made new friends almost instantly because they mix up the schools anyway. Choose for now, not years down the line IMO. If you still want that school then choose when you need to if it's the best fit.

Just cos they go to different high schools doesn’t mean they can’t maintain friendships especially if your friends with her friends parents! You’re worrying about something that very far in the future (ps totally get it though) my daughters in yr 5 so we’re starting to look at high schools for her but it wasn’t a consideration when she started school!

Thank you ladies 💗

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