Relocating to Birmingham with two kids

[Mif86]

Hi, I have two kids aged 6 and 10 and will be relocating by next month. Currently in UAE. I will be doing my studies in Aston University, so considering my commuting to Uni what areas would you recommend for a good girls school and alongside a family friendly area to reside in.

Also will there be a challenge when applying for admissions in the mid of the academic year. Appreciate all your tips and guidance for this.

State primary schools are rarely single sex. By the time secondary school comes round, you'll have more choice regarding single sex, but it very much depends where you live. Assuming you want state schools? If you are willing to pay, you have more options.

Aston Uni is in the city centre. Will you be driving into uni or using public transport?

Decent areas in South Birmingham: harborne, bourneville, kings heath, Moseley, stirchley.

North Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield.

Then there's further out of Birmingham. Solihull, wythall, Hollywood, barnt green, Bearwood.

What's your budget?

We need more info.

Yes, state schools is what I would look into at the moment.

In terms of commuting to Uni , it will be public transport.

Budget in terms of rent is monthly GBP 900. This is the rent only . Does that seem to be a feasible number for the recommended areas ?

Are you looking for secondary schools for the eldest? Would they pass an entrance exam? Most state single sex schools are selective.
Do you need 2 or 3 beds? Looking within 5 miles of the Uni, you couldn't afford a 3

There is a huge all girls secondary school in kings heath and £900 pcm would get you a reasonable house in catchment.

Look up swanshurt school. There are a number of nearby primary schools. Billesley primary, wheelers lane primary, hall green, and a handful more.

My eldest would still not be eligible for secondary since in UAE she is still in Year 5. @SleepingStandingUp

Thanks @JuneOsborne will check the schools you mentioned.

I realise this thread is from November, and you say you are re-locating 'next month', so maybe you are already here ?

I think people are talking about secondary, as presumably you will be living in Birmingham for more than a few months, and presumably you won't want to move again before applying for secondary in October of Year6.
In Birmingham, there are actually quite a few schools that are girls' schools at secondary - Near the cross City train line on the Southern end, there is Turves Green Girls not that far at all from Longbridge Train station and there is Kings' Norton Girls 1/2 way between Kings Norton and Bournville stations. There is Lordswood Girls over in Harborne and then there is Swanshurst Girls in Kings Heath.
Turves Green Girls has now renamed itself King Edwards School Northfield, but don't be fooled by this, it is not a grammar school like the other schools in the King Edwards Foundation are. If you think your dd might be able to get a place at one of the grammars, then they are highly selective (only a tiny% of Bham schools are grammar schools) but there is KH Camp Hill in Kings Heath and there is KE Handsworth in Handsworth.

These are all secondary.
There are masses of Primary schools.

Aston Uni is on the NE edge of the City Centre, so you might be better living NE of City rather than S / SW / W areas. The University is a bit of a trek from the cross City line (New Street Station)station - you are closer to Snow Hill or Moor Street or even Duddeston.

Are you here yet @Mif86 ?

Hi @kite22,

I am yet to travel, and anticipating to be there soon ; target is last week of Dec.

Thanks alot for your message, and as I understand I should be targeting primary schools as they both are in Year 5 and year 1 respectively in this academic year 2021/2022.

In terms of areas , I was considering Sutton Coldfield, Harborne and Boldmere. Any more that I should add to my list?

Harborne, Sutton Coldfield and Boldmere are all lovely areas with good Primary schools (Harborne is weird and doesn't have a good secondary school) BUT I've just had a nose around on Right Move and I am shocked how much renting is. I don't think £900pm will get you anywhere you'd particularly like to live in any of those areas.

I've just put in '3 bed properties between £800 and £1K pm into Rightmove, and NONE of the properties that came up are in anywhere that anyone who knows the area would consider Harborne ..... they have definitely been rather generously described by the Estate Agents. Link

It seems you have to go over £1K to get anywhere a local would recognise as Harborne Link

I'm going to presume Sutton Coldfield and Boldmere would be the same.