Schools
 

I know there's lots of threads about schools, but I wondered if someone could answer a question.

We're hoping to move back next year. Both kids are currently in school in Melbourne - Grade 1 and Grade 5 this year. We're waiting for a financial settlement before we can move back so can make no concrete plans at this stage, and we don't have a definite area to move to - this will depend on where we can get work.

The plan, if it comes off, would be to leave here about April-May next year, taking the kids out of school, with a view to finding work, finding a house (rental initially) and enrolling the kids in time to start again in September.

Is this doable? Will we get places for the kids? I have been reading some posts that you need to have them enrolled by January to get a place, but this isn't possible for us. Obviously we want to be in a good school area and I don't really want to be in the position of having to take what we can get, and then either moving the children or just putting up with it if the school isn't what we want. Its unlikely we'll be able to afford to go private, so that's not an option either.

We will likely be looking around the North Oxfordshire area, but this will depend upon jobs.

OH is the Brit, not me, so I'm struggling a bit with not knowing anything about any of the areas we're looking at. I've checked out Ofsted reports, and rental/sale prices for houses but without really knowing the areas its hard to know where to look. I know we can't enrol the kids from here, but is it worth contacting some schools directly, just for info?

Sorry for the long post - any insights or help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Schools
 

I think it is different in different areas, but from my memory of London, school applications to begin in September had to be in the prior December and schools are allocated in about April time.

It all depends on the area you are going to move to, there are some very over subscribed areas in England. You need to be aware of that. If you do get a late place, it's usually because the school is not doing very well.

The reality is you have to rent/prove a residential address before you can apply for a school. However, I think people who have had long term established roots in a certain area I.e a definite house to move back into MAY find the process easier.

I think you just need to have realistic expectations, it may all fall into place for you, but it may not and you may have to move schools again if you are not happy with the school places you are given.

Once you have a rough idea of the area you are moving to, your first call should be to the education department of the local council. They should be able to give you a list of schools that have places, you can get all sorts of information such as how many people applied for places, how many children missed out, what distance they were from the school I.e how close you need to rent to the school in order to get a place.

It is quite a brutal system, subject to very tough zoning. If you are in an affluent or popular area, expect competition to be tough.

If you were to choose a faith school you may have an easier route in, but of course you generally need to be of that faith to qualify.

We were in a similar position last year, and got a last minute place in a (faith) school. The school is not totally awful but there are lots of problems - 10 supply teachers in our class this term alone! Doubtful that we will stay in this school, we are in a heavily subscribed city, so not sure how easy it is to just change schools as all the good schools are heavily over subscribed or it is just a case of too many people in one area.

Has to be one of the main worries for parents and it will probably be stressful, but it usually works out in the end. Good luck!

I think there should be a thread for schooling in the UK!

Re: Schools
 

Thanks for replying dannigirl. Its one of my main concerns as the kids are in a really good school here in Oz, and we're zoned for an excellent high school as well. The last thing I want is for us to up sticks and move and then find we can't get the kids into schools.

Re: Schools
 

I don't know too much about North Oxfordshire other than when I used to regularly drive on the A423 between Banbury and Coventry - but it does seem to be a fairly affluent county.

I don't know about the Aussie grades and if they differ or not to the UK 'Year' groups; eg. in English schools Grade 6 would be for the 10-11 year olds.

You might want to look ahead to secondary schooling as well as primary schools.

This might be of interest:

North Oxfordshire Academy | Banbury | LEA:Oxfordshire | Oxfordshire | The Good Schools Guide

Oxfordshire state secondary schools list top best find reviews

Oxfordshire state primary schools list top best find reviews

Also you might want to just check the schools just over the border into Northamptonshire eg. Daventry area.

Good Luck!

Re: Schools
 

Thanks Englishmum. I am definitely looking at secondary. Daughter turns 11 this month so will go straight into secondary over there. It's one of the reasons why we need to get this right. Thanks very much for the links too. I will have a look at the websites and maybe contact the schools to see whether they may have places - although it may be too early for that yet.

Re: Schools
 

Hi,

When we returned to the UK from New Zealand we contacted the school to ask about places and just to make contact and get a general feel for them. We then rented a house whilst still there and then applied to the school. That was around June time for our son starting year 8 in the September. Good luck

Re: Schools
 

Hi,

Spacecake offers good advise, we did the same while living in Perth W.A for us though it was 6th Forms. Our son is doing his teaching certificate at Uni and has worked in various schools and he says that the British Education system is very well "set up" to help with students from overseas so you need not worry about that side of things. I am not to familiar with Oxford except it forms part of the Cotswolds and has great links to some of the nicest areas/cities in the U.K. Good luck with everythng

Re: Schools
 

Many people in the UK buy (or rent) to be within the catchment area of their chosen school. In London, it can be difficult with the catchment area (radius from the school) being just a few 100 metres.
House prices (and rents) within these areas can be greater than elsewhere.
Rent first within the catchment area of your choice and once you are there and get a better idea of the schools, buy within the catchment area for your chosen school.

Re: Schools
 

I've just found this interactive map to search for info about schools. The link below is for Oxfordshire:

Schools in Oxfordshire | findaschool.info

Also suggest you also check out the neighbouring counties Northamptonshire and Warwickshire (south Warks is mainly rural, as is Northants).

Schools in Warwickshire | findaschool.info

Schools in Northamptonshire | findaschool.info

Oxford City is one of the most expensive cities in England to buy or rent property (for fairly obvious reasons) and the Cotswolds to the south & west of Oxford is a highly desirable place to live and very expensive. Basically the further you are away from London, Oxford city and the beautiful Cotswold villages the cheaper property prices are...it's all about location. Bear in mind that prices are also a bit higher if the M40 or M1 motorways are only a few minute's drive away. Is there a particular need to be in North Oxfordshire eg. is your Brit's family there?

Not sure of your occupations, but if you work from home and need high-speed internet then you do need to check the speed of the connections, especially in a village/rural location.

If you need to be near London but it's too expensive, then perhaps consider Milton Keynes (can't remember if it is Buckinghamshire or Bedfordshire). Many people commute daily into London from MK, but perhaps better if you only need to go in say a couple of days a week....it is one of the post-war 'New Towns' with lots of activities for families.

Hope this helps :)

Re: Schools
 

Hi all, thanks everyone for the replies and the very helpful information.

Thanks Spacecake - that makes me feel a little better. OH keeps saying "but they have to give them a school place", which I guess is true, but I don't particularly want the crap school halfway across town just because its the only one with places. I have to keep pointing out that its almost 10 years since we [I]visited[I] the UK, and over 20 since we lived there.

Englishmum, no we have no family in Oxfordshire, mainly in North Yorkshire and Manchester area. OH didn't want to go back to Yorkshire (its where he grew up) and was concerned about the lack of jobs - Oxfordshire was a kind of midway point - far enough north to be driving distance to family for weekends, etc. but far enough south to have jobs.

I was pushing for somewhere more around Manchester on the basis that property prices would be lower and jobs more plentiful because its a bigger urban area. Not that we want to live right in the city, but there is plenty of commuter towns, etc.

We have considered Milton Keynes. I have no objections to the town, and there is a possibility of work there for both of us. I'll have to do some more research on the schools in the area.

Thanks again to everyone for all the repsonses.

Re: Schools
 

Not to be negative but our plans to come home came to a crashing halt when the school place they offered him was at the worst school in town. We have a house in catchment of a school that my son was in for five years... Made no difference- all good schools oversubscribed, here's your place regardless of where you live and that's all they are obliged to offer you.. Choose where you live carefully! It's a common problem!

Re: Schools
 

Tirytory offers good advice. The schooling situation in the UK has changed radically over the last 20 years. Good schools have got better and bad schools worse, imo. It is possible to get a place in a good school when arriving from living abroad, but it's important to do your research and talk to LEAs and schools. Yes, the LEA does technically have to provide a school place, but not all LEAs are helpful and the only available places might be in schools with low standards and achievement levels.

Re: Schools
 

Just to paint the other side of the picture, it isn't so bad all over. While good schools are over subscribed in a lot of areas, that isn't always the case. We live in a rural area of Devon and finding a place in a good school (Ofsted Outstanding) was not a problem. The same where my sister lives in Yorkshire. Finding the right school is one of those things that can go well or it can go badly, and if it goes badly then it's a nightmare. So fingers crossed.

My tip would be to focus on finding the area that is right for your family, and then start contacting the half dozen or so schools at the top of your list for that area. You might find there is a school that works for you that is under subscribed, and that would take some of the pressure off. The move will be stressful enough as it is!

Re: Schools
 

Thanks Barnaby (and others who have replied). Work, and then schools will ultimately determine where we live, and it also depends on how much of a house deposit we can ultimately bring with us. Once we have more certainty around that we can narrow down areas to look at and start contacting some schools.

Re: Schools
 

Hi,

The "better" areas around Manchester are very pricey nowadays due to the huge growth of the city, of course you can always find a bargain. I would rent myself if your heading to a "new" area just to get the feel of the surrounds etc. All the best