Moving from Sweden to Oxford - need help!

[KarelinR]

Hi everyone!

I am moving to Oxford from Sweden to work at the University with my husband who will be working from home for his Swedish employer and our three kids, 11, 9 and 7 years old.

I don't know anything about Oxford so I need all the advice I can get!

Most urgent right now is:

1. Schools - what can you recommend? The most important is that they have a welcoming atmosphere to foreign kids and maybe some experiences of receiving kids with limited English skills.

1. Where should we live? And what to look out for then looking for accommodation?

Any advise on this would be most appreciated!!

I can't advise much on schools because we home educate.

However, I can tell you that Oxford schools are very full due to a combination of a population increase and short-sighted local planning. Your children will not necessarily get into the school closest to where you live but would have to go to whichever school has vacancies. You could contact the Local Authority and ask them to tell you which schools have vacancies in the classes your children would need, and then move close to one of those schools. On the plus side, Oxford is awash with foreigners, meaning that schools are quite accustomed to assimilating newcomers who are not fluent in English.

However, I think many parents would advise you to live out of Oxford. Abingdon is a decent-sized town which is popular. It is said to be family-friendly and to have good schools which are less crowded than Oxford's. It would be an easy commute for you.

OP most of the schools in the north of Oxford are quite good but tough to get places. As noted above all of Oxford is v oversubscribed. You might want to consider private schools that may be more flexible and understanding if the language issues/will work to overcome them.

Oxford itself is v expensive and some areas v studenty. North is nice with a village feel but pricey. East Oxford nice but schools a bit hit and miss. New hinksey is v cute - nice schools and some nice houses with bug yards. I too would consider leaving a bit further out - in a village outside the ring road or in Abingdon which has great schools and which isn't such a tough commute as from, say, Witney. The countryside is a bit sleepy but, hey , so is Oxford!

Welcome to oxford. My adoptive hometown and I love it here. Housing is expensive so it could well be that this is what determines where you are going to live, unless the uni offers some housing. Have a look at rightmove for housing info and daily info for things to do, and Oxfordshire county council and ofsted sites for schools. Good luck!

I moved to Oxford a year ago and was horrified by how expensive housing is. think moving to London and you'd be about right. you've missed the main housing window for state schools which are in fact below the national average for results (if you care about league tables which are v problematic). This is in part due to the disproportionately high number of private schools available here. people recommend moving out to the villages but as someone with young children and working for the university I would say move as close as possible to work/schools/vibrant life for the work at home husband. traffic commuting into oxford is horrendous a morning commute from Witney can take an hour its only about 14 miles away. no decent parking in town, v limited College parking. this all sounds bleak but seriously its a tiny crazy over crowded town. a joy to live in but very challenging. if you have two great salaries you'll be fine. live in summertown for a real 'Oxford' feel. i hope that helps!

Hi everyone, just moved to Oxford with DH and 2 DD. Can you help find gymnastics club (9yrs old) and ballet lessons (Grades 3 & 5) in Oxford? Thank you

Hi just to let the person who asked for Swedish connections: In Marsh Gibbon there is a church called Highway, it has a young and vibrant community with a big swedish community there. You might want to look them up and ask their take on things. Marsh Gibbon is on the Oxfordshire border.