Hi,

I haven't read all the previous responses in depth but I am assuming you already know about locrating.com. We have used that to identify and start research for schools for us... we're moving back in January. We have identified our initial landing point in terms of a town and area and have got into the school application process. For our future LEA, the closing date for regular applications is mid-January and then spots are assigned by mid-April. For one of our kids who is starting school in Reception next September, it's a simple enough process. For the other who will need to transfer into year 1, we'll do the mid-year transfer application as soon as we arrive. All the schools in the area are rated either 1 or 2 by Ofsted so it makes things a little less worrisome. But there is an appeals process that you can easily go through if you don't want to accept the first choice from the LEA.

Good luck to you!!

Thanks brits1 - we will certainly be renting for at least six months. If nothing else, after so long away we will need to build up some sort of credit rating I imagine before qualifying for a mortgage.

I haven't seen this one before - thank you! At work at the moment but will certainly be looking into this one in more detail. Very helpful, thanks.

Can I just ask is "1 or 2 by Ofsted" the same as "Good" and "Outstanding". A lot of the Ofsted reports I've looked at seem quite old, and some of the secondary schools in particular have changed status to "Academies", so the Ofsted reports are not as valid, until they get re-inspected under the new status.

Hi

We were offered a mortgage while still in Aus, we started to look online but then thought we really should have a good luck around the areas we were interested in first so we rented when we arrived home, we started to look around at home after about 6 months or so and then went back to the bank and they offered us a mortgage as well even though we did not have anything on "credit" just household bills and my mobile which is and always has been pay as you go. Our bank just wanted to see proof of income and we were good to go and that was when Banks were being VERY choosey about who they were offering mortgages to. All the best

This is great news about the mortgage situation. I know that it's all a bit of a crap-shoot in terms of the banks you go to and the location where you're buying... still it's a positive story. Thanks.

In answer to Kiwikaye's question about Ofsted. Yes I is outstanding and 2 is good. There is also 1 outstanding that has extra acclaims added to it. I'm not sure how it's presented though.

It seems from my research that you can use the Ofsted ratings as your main source of info then go from there. Honestly a personal tour of the school and the chance to meet the staff and see kids at school at work is invaluable. Plus because we're going to a smaller area, I have been successful at asking around and talking to friends of friends who have kids at the schools so I can get their impressions too. For instance, one school I was disregarding because it's Ofsted rating was lower has actually been 'turned around' very successfully this year and they have now been given an outstanding rating. Good luck!!

Another quick response about building up credit ratings:

- We have American Express cards and have always used them for everyday purchasing and then we pay them off the following month. Apparently we can easily get Amex accounts based in the UK right off the bat (I haven't looked into this in detail but others on Britexpats have done this successfully). We may not get as high buying limits with them, but we'll be able to start building a history right off the bat.
- I understand mobile phones are a large factor so we'll try and get those squared away quickly.
- I was able to open a barclays checking account on the internet using the address we'll be moving to at first. Then during a recent reconnaissance visit for schools, I went to the local barclays branch and finished off the account application and opening and I now have a chequebook and a cashpoint card for the account. I have been making regular deposits into it and have been receiving statements now for the past 3 months. This will help too.
- I have sent off the paperwork to get my NI number sent to me and it has also been received. I memorized the number itself but forgot the additional letters. Once we are physically in the UK I'll get my details on the electoral roll. I needed my NI number for this.
- I still have two small balances with different building societies and have the old cashpoint cards. Once I am there I will go and try and get the accounts rekindled.

Just some ideas that might help you too!