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Original poster

Relocation: help needed to find a good secondary school

90 replies

Slubulino · 19/01/2024 14:30

Hello there!

We are relocating from Sweden to UK with a 12y old boy. Please help suggest small towns, villages around London or London neighbourhoods that I should look at when moving that will give the best chance for my 12y old boy to enter in a good sencodary school.

Is it worth paying a relocation consultant to help with the school registrations and appeal?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Slubulino · 19/01/2024 17:19

What happens if none of the schools that are in the catchment area of your address have a vacant place? For example can I move in St Albans or in Richmond and get a place in another council?

OP posts:
Original poster
Slubulino · 19/01/2024 17:15

@tennissquare I am moving to UK because of my company. 70% of my team is there compared with 30% in Sweden. I will however not need to be in office every day as I work in IT and we work from home most of the days now.

My son is fluent in English (actually prefers it over Swedish). My son is quite advanced in his academics. He is in a very good school here so I am trying not to mess things up for him. And yes we are familiar with the UK culture.

OP posts:
Voulez23 · 19/01/2024 17:13

Ware, Hertford and Hitchin are all really nice historic towns north of London but easily reachable on the train.

As is St Albans, but you will probably find you get less house for your money because it's deemed more desirable.

Children change schools at age 11 in this country, so it will be a matter of where has vacant place for your son, not so much a free choice for you. You'll need to speak to the local council to find out which state schools have places available but they won't allocate you one until you're actually living here. Private (or independent) schools are a little different - some switch over at age 11 and some age 13. You might find you have more choice if you can afford to pay.

Best of luck with the move!

fedupandstuck · 19/01/2024 17:06

Yes, he would be in year 8 for sept 2024.

In terms of state secondary schools, it very much depends on which schools have space in that year group. You can ask to be put on the waiting lists for any school in your area that you would like to wait for, and in the meantime your child will be offered a place at one of the schools that have space.

tennissquare · 19/01/2024 17:06

If you are aiming for a U.K. state school I'm not sure a relocation person can help because getting a space is dependent on the postcode of the house you rent and if the school has space when you apply.
Is there a reason you are moving to the U.K. (to help with suggesting an area) and is your ds familiar with uk culture / language etc? Ie a more diverse area may make relocation easier.

Lonelycrab · 19/01/2024 17:03

I’m in Fleet, North Hampshire, it has two well regarded secondary schools, also there are other nearby secondaries that are good too. It’s about an hour from London by train and although not cheap to live here, it’s not massively expensive for the south east either, and it’s fairly pleasant.

Im sure there are other places that will also give you what you’re looking for too

Original poster
Slubulino · 19/01/2024 17:03

Slubulino · 19/01/2024 16:54

Thank you for your quick responses!

Buget: £3000
The kid turns 12y in February so I think he will be in year 8?
I don't need to commute to work so I can be 1h from London.
I am looking for state school (not private ... way to expensive :()

Edited

I think realistically is £2500 monthly because there is also the council tax that I need to factor in. 😅

OP posts:
Original poster
Slubulino · 19/01/2024 17:01

Yes, we can go for up to £3000 monthly for our rent. Of course we would love to find lower if possible. I could see a lot of nice places between £2000 - £2500. I will edit and put £2500 because now I realise is also a council tax that is aded 😥

We plan to move in August so my son will go in year 8.

OP posts:
fedupandstuck · 19/01/2024 16:58

Is that a monthly rental budget or a typo? I think your son will be in year 7 if you were to move to the Uk before the end of this academic year in July.

Original poster
Slubulino · 19/01/2024 16:54

Thank you for your quick responses!

Buget: £3000
The kid turns 12y in February so I think he will be in year 8?
I don't need to commute to work so I can be 1h from London.
I am looking for state school (not private ... way to expensive :()

OP posts:
clary · 19/01/2024 16:22

Yeh @Slubulino i echo others. For a suggestion to be of any use, we really need to know your budget for renting or buying.

Also Yy are you looking for private, so fee paying, schools, or state (free)? It might be more straightforward to find a place at a private school (tho probs not a super popular London one) but there’s no point people suggesting schools until we know. For context, a private school for secondary will cost upwards of £15-20k a year.

LIZS · 19/01/2024 14:50

At 12 (Year 7/8?) you are dependant on finding a school with an "In Year" vacancy, so very much a lottery at the time. If year 7 (turning 13 after September 1st 2024) those children will only just have started and there may still be a waiting list. Where do you need to be near for work or socially? Budget/home requirements may limit areas too.

idontlikealdi · 19/01/2024 14:43

Whats your budget and private or state? Do you need to commute for work and where to?

BoohooWoohoo · 19/01/2024 14:37

When moving to London, housing budget often determines where you can live.

MuddyBoots21 · 19/01/2024 14:36

Are you thinking of private secondary or state?