Where would you move to for great state schools?

[whereishome]

Hi there,

If you had no ties anywhere, where would you move to for great state primary and secondary schools. We have complete freedom of choice and it's a bit mind-boggling!

Sheffield - more particularly the south west enclave :-) there are some decent primaries but more particularly, due to the fact that there are no grammars some of the secondaries are really excellent. Plus you get to live in one of only two cities nationwide with a national park within it's boundaries...

The Isle of Man. Great schools, easy admissions system.

Go by region-area-county-town you otherwise want to live & then find the best schools there; most cities will have enough variety to have both great & dire schools.

Scotland - get in there early for free universities

Ok, thank you. And if we need to be in the south?

Northerner here, won't get a recommendation for the south from me - quality of life much better up north!

Leicesteshire for primary and secondary.

To be honest I think you could pick almost anywhere - as long as you research which schools in that area are the ones to go for, and make sure you are in catchment when you choose where to live. Bristol is a prime example of a city that has a dire reputation for secondary schools, however there are actually some fantastic ones in the city too - plus additional great schools around the outskirts of the city. You just need to know where exactly to live in order to access them!

well we live in suffolk. commutable to london ( not that I do but i understand some people need to) with cheap house prices. really good small state primaries and some great rural secondaries too.

friends are always suprised that there are only 12 in DS2's reception class.

I know small schools arent for anyone but i think they are great for little ones

Plus very little angst about admission as there is a surplus of places

You need to state: do you need access to London? Town or country or suburbs? Grammar or comp or not sure? Any other special requirements eg. Competition swimming or white water canoeing?

:o @ Mummytime

Not meaning to be rude about the south above, just think I you can truly live anywhere it's worth not discounting the north. For example, my favourite city Sheffield has to offer (in addition to the aforementioned good schools): more green spaces than any other city in Europe, easy access to peak district, lots of leafy surburban streets if that floats your boat, good shopping at meadowhall, great bar/ cafe scene, lowest crime rate of any UK city, vast array of beautiful Victorian properties from small terraces to mansion type, and if you still can't shift the grimy indutrial image the biggest employers are actually the two universities and the constituency of Hallam which encompasses the south west (Nick Clegg's seat) is the wealthiest pet capita outside London...

Sheffield's unofficial PR machine steps back from the iPhone<

PendulumSwinger - I am sorry if you thought I haven't included the north because it isn't nice. Not true. Married a lad from Yorkshire, lived in Yarm, Cleveland and loved it. Harrogate would tick most of my boxes. However, needs must and hubby will almost certainly need to commute to London on a frequent basis. And mummy time, will have a think - you are quite right.

:o

Bromley/Beckenham/Hayes area. Excellent state schools, primary and secondary, and affordable housing. I'm biased because I live there. But we moved here because of the excellent state schools.

If Harrogate ticks your boxes, consider York. Mainline to Kings X.

St Albans but it is very popular for schools so over subscribed

Avoid the London Borough of Merton.

Wiltshire, Dorset or seveoaks

Wiltshire north or west
Great primaries and proper comprehensives.