choosing schools

[AgnestaVipers]

Can anyone recommend a search engine that helps identify/rate good schools in specific areas? I'm on 'Snobe' now, but would be interested to know if there's something better or more user-friendly.
Thanks

Define your idea of "good".

Are you looking at state or private? If state realistically your options are limited to your catchment, it’s worth looking at the stats for this years admissions as although you might be catchment doesn’t mean you will get in if your outer catchment etc

Ofsted ratings and exam results. but obviously a good search engine allows you to filter.

We'd be looking at state, and the catchment area is not a primary focus, as we'd be moving into the area.

you should be aware
Ofsted ratings are subjective and unless done very recently may not be representative of "now"

Exam results (I assume you mean KS2 SATS as you're talking about primary?) are mostly intake dependent. Taking in a cohort of bright children and getting good results (particularly if half of them are tutored on the side) does not necessarily represent a good school. Also, a primary school may get good KS2 SATS because they literally turn Year 6 into a SATS factory year to the point that students spend most of the time practicing SATS questions to the detriment of a broader education.

That said, you want the education .gov tables for this info. www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables
Lots of downloadable data on just about anything you could want.

Also, if you're planning to move into a catchment area, and your children are already school age (i.e. you won't be moved before they start Reception) you will not get your pick of schools - just the ones with places, which will tend to be the less popular ones.

Sorry - you didn't say you were looking for primary schools (I skim read and saw "primary" but that was in a different context!) Still, the same rationale about exam results matching intake (and particularly if exam results do not match intake) applies.

We'd actually need primary and secondary.

I take your point about available places, thanks.

Op you might be better off if you specified an area you are looking at. MN is actually very good at that. I could advise on where I woikd recommend in my local area, for example.

Do you have a defined area/city/town?

We don't at the moment. However, we are properly exploring the possibility of moving to the Lake District or thereabouts.