Changing primary school form England to Wales after divorce

[beingmum2013]

Hi, my soon to be ex husband left the family home 2 years ago. Before the end of the year I am looking to relocate back to Wales (where I am from and where my family live). I only moved to current location approx. 10 years ago to be with my ex. (we were married for 8 years). I am currently devising a report to present to my ex to explain my intentions to move and also describe and validate the pros of this move. I am currently on other threads regarding the ins and outs of moving away with children after divorce and I know its a sore subject (especially for all the dads out there). I have my reasons and I believe them to be valid. I also have had confirmation from a solicitor that they are valid too.

The advice I am looking for here is specifically regarding moving schools.
*When is the best time to move schools?
*How can I prove that the new school will be good enough (both for my children and also to satisfy my ex-who happens to be a teacher!) when the English and Welsh grading systems are different, but esp when the Welsh school is 'satisfactory' when their curent English school is 'Outstanding'?

My children are 5 & 8.

I would appreciate any advice on the above, on transition and on satisfying a court that the Welsh school will be good enough should my ex try and use the school aspect to block the move (which he almost certainly will do)

many thanks

The first question to ask is when where the two inspections by Ofsted and by Estyn in Wales, as it will inform a lot on how much of a difference there really is. If you PM me the schools and the LAs I can look up the last reports - I might even have inspected the school in Wales!

The only way that you could prove it is OK is by you both visiting the school but that is obviously fraught also with danger and may give totally the wrong impression.

In terms of when to move I would suggest that this is best done at Easter or Whit if possible rather than the summer holidays as it will get the kids back into school ASAP and help them form new friendships, rather than have the summer holidays without too many friends.
Your youngest will be an infant (foundation stage in Wales) and so the infant class size regs may come into play if the school is full. Older one at 8 will not have that problem.

Wow Admission you are still here! you helped me so much when my 8 yr old was starting primary school with my appeal and I actually won :)
The school in Wales is Fishguard Primary. Any others in the locality will also be considered. I would happily involve my husband in the process of choosing a school in north Pembs for our children but he would be so against the move I doubt he would want to!
Thanks for your help