Researching schools in new area - help!

[CoffeeMum]

We are planning a move to a new city in under 18 months time and we have two DC. DS will start nursery very soon after we move, DD is younger - so both will be in the school system in this area from start to finish, as it were.

I want to start researching schools in the new area, from nursery level, taking into account which nurseries feed into which schools etc, so that we can get the DC 'on the right track'.

But i don't know where to start! Do i literally look at a map and pick out the schools in our local area and research them on the Ofsted site, and on the school's own website. Or should i contact the local council perhaps? Are my children eligible for all local state schools? Presumably not the faith schools, unless we have that faith?

I'm a bit green about the whole business and i'd really appreciate being pointed in the right direction. It's difficult, as, because we currently live 200 miles from this area, we can't really get the local gossip either.

Thanks

The local council is probably the best bet and they'd have copies of the Ofsted reports, inclusion criteria etc. Our council has a pack detailing all the schools in the area. Perhaps you could write to the new council and tell them of your plans & ask them to send you what they have.

Iklboo thank you! That's exactly the kind of thing that i'd be after - an info pack about all the schools in the area. I will call them now. I had thought this would be a good starting point, but i didn't want to go barking up the wrong tree.

No problem - they may give you the speil about it being out of date but just tell them you're getting ideas for when you do move.

Can I be nosey and ask where you're moving to?

Good tip thank you! We're planning on moving up to the Allerton/Mossley Hill area of Liverpool [from London]

this website has quite a bit of information

We are moving soon, and I did things the other way round, I mean I looked at houses in the area that I liked/was affordable and then checked out the schools nearby.

The rightmove website is good, it gives you a local map with nearest schools and links to their ofsted inspections and exam results.

As others have said, the local council will also have lists of all the schools and nurseries. If you are moving outside of normal school entry (ie half-way through school year) you can usually apply directly to the schools but they might not offer a place until you have a definite address.

Thanks all... bruffin that looks really handy - thank you, i have saved it!

Child of the 70s [me too! ] - yes, i was very unclear, but that is basically what we're doing too. We've found the neighbourhood we like in the city we like [admittedly part of the decision was based on a general impression that the schools are considered good] - and now i just need proper, concrete info about the schools, admissions procedure etc. Thanks for the tip about rightmove - i'm on that site alot anyway, as we're looking at property in the area too. Luckily, our children are only tiny and will only start nursery once we've moved, so i don't have to worry about them starting in the middle of the year or anything.

Thanks everyone