Is it a good idea to move to Birmingham?

[Mumjojo1]

Hi all am new on here but would be greatful with any ideas and advise, my husband got a job in Birmingham but as a mum to three boys am terrified to get them out of school here in Liverpool as they are in a good school.Any I woul like to know about which area in Birmingham with good schools and nice for a younger family too. Thanks in ad.xx

Solihull schools have always been good, but it is pricey so depends on budget.

A lot of the Solihull schools have teeny tiny admission areas though.

Thanks all hoping Solihull is good to live in too.

We are renting looking between £700-1000 PMC.

It's a bit urban for me tbh but I'm guessing that you are used to that/ it's what you want if you are from Liverpool? The more affordable bits of South Solihull are Shirley, Olton and the Lode Lane side of the town centre which doesn't really have a name. (up by land rover). This is only just outside budget for example and looks nice from quick search
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-60710197.html

If you are going to be renting it might be worth actually looking at schools first before houses? Although yes some probably have tiny catchments there are some schools that are fairly large also so must have some movement/ be a bit easier.

Past catchments in Solihull
www.solihull.gov.uk/Portals/0/Schools%20and%20learning/RecHowPlacesWereOffered15.16.17.pdf

if working in Birmingham you can also look at surrounding counties like Warwickshire and Staffordshire depending on how long you are willing to commute for.

Thanks Hun will do more research obvious but am so terrified of moving just in case I land into a s** area! With bad schools.xx

Yes I will be working for B&Solihull tust any my other half will be in the women's so yes.x

Well, Birmingham is the biggest Local Authority in Europe apparently, and has the highest population of U25s of any City. There are hundreds of schools, and they are not all confined to one area, so, people could suggest a suburb / area of the City and there will be a while range of schools in that area.
As you might predict, the schools that people rate highly will generally be full, and there will be places at schools considered less good.

You also want to think about your commute(s) in terms of where you live. The Women's hospital is on the same site as the QE hospital / the med school / Birmingham University. Parking isn't great, so looking at where trains stop on the cross City line might be a good start. However, that then doesn't put you in a great place for Solihull in terms of commuting. Will also depend if you are travelling in rush hour or at odd times.

Virtually all Sutton Coldfield schools have good reputations (on North of City) but the traveling from the Women's to there is a bit of a nightmare.
What sort of ages are your dc ? Would you be looking for secondary or Primary ?

What do you mean by a "good" school? How old are your children? Secondary schools are more difficult than decent primaries, tbh.
Do you know which site you'll be based from (your trust has several sites, all very far apart! It will be tricky to find somewhere without one of you having a hellish commute, I'm afraid, possibly both of you

I've lived in Birmingham - a few places there.. If I had to go back the only places I'd consider is Sutton Coldfield or Solihull. As one of the previous posters said, Shirley is more affordable but also part of Solihull.

Another area within easy commute of the Women's is Harborne/Edgbaston. It's close to central Birmingham and Harborne has a nice villagey feel. It is quite expensive to live there though. The primary schools are all excellent, but rumour has it that the secondary is a bit so-so (as most of the 'nice' kids go to grammar, and if they don't get in, go private - according to my friends who are locals).

Bearwood is cheaper and 'up and coming'. Moseley is trendy. Both worth a look.

Birmingham and Warks are grammar areas so have some great schools. Solihull is a nice area. There are a lot of nice areas just south of the City center too. I love Birmingham, one of the nicest cities I ever visit.

Nice - somewhat overused that word, sorry!

Birmingham isn't a grammar area!
It has 8 super-selectives that take fewer than 5% of the population, and have people travelling in from three authorities away.

Kids age 7,6 and 1 thanks all real appriciate all comments.

The Birmingham grammars will take from anywhere. It goes by test score and distance.

You may well struggle to ge the six and seven year old into a primary tbh as for a lot of schools in Solihull these were years with huge fertility boom issues.

For easy access to the women's hospital I would look at kings norton/bournville/cotteridge areas. Good schools and ten mins on the train to get to the hospital.

Will try grammar and will try other areas too😍

So good to have such support from all yous, otherwise it was getting me down a bit.xx