Is there an easy way to identify good schools in an area you don't know..

[ohdearwhatamess]

... or do I have to just trail through every Ofsted report.

We're trying to decide where to move to and good schools are crucial.

Start a MN thread calling for info from MNers in your possible areas...?

swindon schools aren't great ith!

well, primary not that bad but secondary really terrible

Swindon isn't an option, but thank you! ooking at Cambs, Herts, possibly even Essex r Northants.

Will do another thread (one in property didn't get much response).

There isn't some sort of online list of good/bad schools for lazy people like myself to look at?

Apologies for missing letters in that post.

Well firstly, I would look at secondary, not primary as that will help you pinpoint wider areas. Decide whether you want to go comprehensive or take your chances with schools that select. Then look at something like the Times Top 100 list (or something like that), or the BBC lists where you can sort by county and then by VA or results. Finally, I would then read Ofsted reports for your top faves, coupled with posting more specific "asks" on here.

HTH

Are you thinking of moving? South Cambridgeshire schools are generally quite good - so are North West Essex schools (both primary and secondary). I think you can do an Ofsted search around a place or postcode which could help.

South Cambs is the most likely option. We don't want to be too near Bedfordshire though (SIL lives in South Cambs but comes under Beds for schools and the secondary choices are grim, by all accounts).

Would expect to send dcs to private secondary schools but would like there to be reasonable state options in case our circumstances change.

Worriedfriend - thank you. Really helpful. I'll try that.

If you are interested in Cambridgeshire, post your question on the Mumsnet Local board for Cambridge.
I saw your property thread. If your DH wants to be able to cycle to the station this limits your choices. You would either want to be in Cambridge or one of the villages that has a station. Generally only the slowest trains stop at the intermediate stations on the Kings X line. If he commutes to the City he might use Liverpool St.
If you want independent schools for secondary in that area, your DCs will need to be able to get into Cambridge by bus/train. There are some private bus services serving the independent schools as well.

The good schools guide covers predominantly private schools but it also has reviews for what are considered the best state schools in each area.
You can search their site by area to see how many state secondaries there have "A GSG school" status. Once you've pinpointed a good secondary area to move to, you can explore the primaries.

ohdearwhatamess - all the above are great suggestions.

fwiw, I live nowhere near Cambridge or Herts. but even I have heard of the fabled Hills Road College and the two Cambridge village schools. I also have heard that Herts operates a slightly complicated system for secondary school. There is a somewhat confusing system of secondary allocation, with some schools operating a partial selection system, and there are some incredibly popular and vey high-achieving schools in that system. But, from what I've heard, it can be quite stressful applying to get into your first choice.

Essex I know v. little about. Again, I think bits of it have some selective schools and some great comprehensives, though at least one with a complicated admissions policy. Northants. I know v. little, other than bits of it used to fall within the catchment of grammar schools in other boroughs, and that is in the process of changing.

I'd also add that taking a day trip to an area and actually chatting to people, with children, that you meet, can be an incredibly informative thing to do.

Good luck.

Have a look at what they are like when they come out of the school gates? Are they well-behaved or unruly? Do they act like a mob, or do they let other members of the public pass without a hindrance? What are they like on public transport?

Does the local shop have a sign up saying, "only two school children in at one time"?

You can search by exam results (only one measure I appreciate) by putting in the post code/area in the secondary school section of upmystreet.co.uk

Might work as a quick and dirty first measure?

Essex has the 11+ system, and some excellent grammar schools, such as the Southend High Schools and the Westcliff High Schools (both split into single-sex). Ds1 went to WHSBoys and ds2 to SHSBoys, and we were very happy with both schools - high academic standards, good facilities and good standards of behaviour.

Some primary schools do prepare children for the 11+, or you can either coach them yourself at home or get them privately coached.

Great tips, thank you.

Essex is our 'last resort' place (although the education system sounds good and might tempt me to look more closely). It isn't so convenient for dh - train lines into King's Cross work better.

Cambridge primary and secondary pretty good. City schools more mixed.

Good primaries can be found both in the city and in villages.

Secondary-wise - Parkside is pretty small and good, Netherhall and Chesterton are pretty well thought of. Coleridge has been on special measures and has joined Parkside in a federation. Opinions about the success of this are mixed. Further afield - Comberton and Saffron Walden High are amazing, Bottisham good, Linton good, Impington good, Cottenham good. Don't really know about any of the other village colleges.

The really good thing about this area is that there are so many good schools it is possible to go out of catchment for a school that is more in tune with your idea of what makes a good school.

Good luck!

Sawston VC also good.

The cynic in me says "look at the house prices."