To ask you how to move house/area

[Musicforthemasses18]

My kids are about to start year 6 and year 2. I intend to move to a cheaper area at the end of this year for a quieter life out of the south east. I intend to spend the next year looking for a new town to move to.

But how do I manage that with schools - I feel overwhelmed by the whole catchment area thing as I cant apply until I am actually living in the area. My eldest is ok to move as long as he can see our this year with his mates of 7 years but I worry about him not knowing anyone in secondary in a new area.

Aibu to ask for your advice on how to best manage this?

Lots of kids don't know anyone in their first year of high school. We moved to Australia at the end of my oldest DD"s primary years and she began what's called middle school here with not a soul she knew.

Best thing ever for her as it turned out. New starts can be very powerful....

First of all, I would separate the issue of where to live from that of what schools might be available.

Make a list of say, 4 towns that you like the look of. If there's nothing holding you back, choose any you like.

Then, look at social media pages for those towns....Google things like "XTown, best secondary schools" and look for evidence of over-subscribed schools or places which seem to be struggling.

Then, call the schools in the areas you like...ask directly what admissions are like...how full do they get. Ask on MN about the towns you like and about what schools you're most likely to get into