end in sight I hope! 6th form / town / property

[FramboiseCoulis]

Hello all

I’m hoping there are some great ideas out there for me because I'm in a snowball situation.

I’ve been in France for 19 years, divorced, one child who wants to do A-levels or Scottish Highers in the UK as of next year and then study in the UK. I soooo want this too!!! We have wanted to leave for years, but ex-husband and endless court cases have kept us here.

I’ve looked at state colleges and schools – such a great choice and loved the look of Peter Symonds for example.

BUT what’s stopping me is finding an affordable place to live – I would have to give up my job here so no job security for a while, and I’m in my mid-50s. And I’d have to find a landlord willing to rent to someone with no income. Can anyone tell me how could this work?

How is it realistically to get a job at my age? I’m in a management role in HE currently.

I guess I’m just wondering how do people start all over again. My deposit to buy would be around 180 – 200k, which does not go far in the South, which is where most of my friends live. My UK bank said I need to have worked for 3 months and have a permanent contract to be offered a mortgage.

We’ve looked at Scotland – wowser, love it, but I’m reluctant to start afresh in a place so far from everyone I know and yet, it could be a wonderful experience and my daughter wants to study there for her degree.

I’m out of touch with a lot of things in the UK, but realistically I am looking for a small house in a lovely area, close to a big city or town with a kick-ass 6th form for my bright girl. I really don’t want to have to keep on working 15 more years to pay a mortgage….

For info, am originally from the North East but the only place I’d consider there is Northumberland.

So if there are any feel-good stories of women in their 50s, starting all over again, I’d be so grateful!

Thank you.

I'm not in my 50s, but my son is a similar age to your child. We moved back to the UK from NZ in August and honestly I hate it here. I'm in a crappy temporary job, my experience isn't really relevant to the job market here and I feel like I'm starting again at a graduate level, competing for jobs with people 20 years younger than me.

I sold a beautiful house in NZ and I have a decent deposit but I can't buy here until I have a permanent job. I'm renting from my parents, but before their flat became available I did find landlords willing to rent to me if I paid in advance, so that might be an option for you.

Sorry, that's not super helpful for you!

On a positive note, have you thought of Hexham? I think Queen Elizabeth High School is pretty good, and it's very easy to travel into Newcastle.

On the colleges.
Peter Symonds is accessible from Southampton. Probably not as cheap as some other cities further north, but infinitely better than Winchester.
Though if you were going for Southampton, you may end up preferring Barton Peveril anyway.
Can't help on any of the other things.

I would check out the student finance rules in both England and Scotland very carefully, to see what your daughter would be eligible for.

You could probably afford a 2 bed flat or maisonette on that budget in Eastleigh or its surrounds which would give you access to Peter Symonds and Barton Peverill sixth form colleges.
In terms of jobs, have a look on job sites, contact some agencies, plenty are interviewing via Zoom still.

With that money why not move back and rent while you get established? Then you could top up the deposit with a small mortgage when you are able to.
Go for it! It sounds like a brilliant plan.

If your daughter wants to go to university in Scotland wouldn’t you be better off living there from a fee point of view?
Why can’t you rent to start with to get 3+ months payslips? It takes a while to buy anyway and it’s easier if you are in the area already.
If you’re set on somewhere like Peter Symonds we live in Winchester and my son went there. Winchester is expensive, a small Victorian terrace can easily be £450/500,000. But students do travel a long distance to attend and there is a boarding option where you just pay for the accommodation so there are options.