Solihull or Sutton Coldfield

[Bisa]

We currently live in London and want to move to either Sutton Coldfield or Solihull. We have 2 boys 6&3 so primarily need to live close to excellent state schools especially secondary in a safe area.

We don’t really know these areas and will greatly appreciate any advice we can get with recommendations on which of these towns to be looking at and the area to focus on.
Many thanks in advance.

First off, what’s your budget? I only ask because Solihull is a metropolitan borough which covers quite a large area (which includes not-so-great areas like Chelmsley Wood) whereas Sutton Coldfield is a borough of Birmingham and depending on where you buy a house in Solihull - the schools will vary a lot. I’m assuming you mean proper Solihull or the villages in Solihull as you’re comparing it to Sutton Coldfield.

I can’t comment on Sutton Coldfield but the schools overall in Solihull are excellent. Several outstanding schools and excellent reports from OFSTED. I would recommend Arden Academy, St Peter’s Catholic (if you’re Catholic), Tudor Grange. I would focus on living Dorridge, Knowle and Solihull (the town).

www.solihull.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-10/Tudor-Grange-Academy-Solihull-How-Places-Were-Offered-Map-2020.pdf - catchment area for Tudor Grange

www.solihull.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-10/2020-Arden.pdf - catchment area for Arden (the map is of Dorridge & Knowle)

As you’re from London and I imagine you’ll want to visit now-and-again, Dorridge and Solihull have excellent links to London via the motorway and twice an hour services to Marylebone. Good luck.

Knowle and Dorridge (near Solihull) both have excellent primaries that feed into Arden Academy. Solihull also has many great primaries and Tudor Grange and Alderbrook are both good secondaries.
Sutton Coldfield has grammars for secondary if that’s important. Birmingham grammars now have catchments and a child won’t get in from Solihull (on distance) although some do go to the grammars at Stratford upon Avon and Alcester.
Solihull has good rail links to London via it’s own station (same line as Dorridge) to Marylebone or also from Birmingham International to Euston if needed.