Best Places to Move to for Your Children’s Education in 2020

There are many reasons why people choose to move home. These are usually job or family related and often where the best schools are will be a factor in your decision when moving to a new home.

In this week’s home moving blog we will look at where are the best schools and universities in the UK based on the latest available data.

But schooling is only part of the education equation when raising your children. The opportunities to learn and develop outside of the school curriculum are equally important.

Things like recreational facilities, low crime rate, accessibility to the countryside, pollution levels and of course the job opportunities for you are all things that you may want to consider before a home move.

So not only will we list the top rated schools, but give you an introduction to the towns they are in and let you know the average home prices within those towns and cities.

And as a bonus at the end of this guide, you will find out about apprenticeships, night classes, and further education. All the training schemes are searchable by location, so the opportunities for all the family can be taken into consideration when deciding where your next home will be.

People are moving less frequently than they used to, so deciding where to move to whilst forming a long term plan for your children’s education and future career makes sense.

From primary school to job training, to finding out which are future-proof jobs, you can plan on the best location to move to with the help of this guide.

Where are the Best Primary Schools in the UK?

1. Boltons CofE School, Wigton CA7 8PA
2. Wincle CofE Primary School, Macclesfield SK11 0QH
3. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Stafford ST19 9BG
4. Lanercost CofE Primary School, Brampton CA8 2HL
5. The Cathedral School of St. Saviour and St. Overy, London SE1 1HG

Source: www. Telegraph.co.uk

Wigton – The birthplace of Melvyn Bragg, Wigton is a market town in Cumbria, just outside the stunning scenery of the Lake District. There are beautiful Georgian style buildings to be seen in the historic market square surrounding the memorial fountain. Carlisle is only 10 miles away whilst beautiful Derwent Water at Keswick is only 16 miles from Wigston.

According to www.rightmove.co.uk  average property prices range from £114,840 for a terraced home to £243,740 for a detached property.

Macclesfield – An affluent market town in Cheshire which was once the world’s biggest producer of finished silk. Macclesfield is within easy access of the Peak District and only 38 miles from beautiful Chester. There are plenty of sports facilities in Macclesfield which also hosts the annual British Lawnmower Race each December.

www.zoopla.co.uk state that the average terraced home costs £181,573 whilst a detached home will set you back about £312,758.

Stafford – In the town centre you will find the amazing Elizabethan Ancient High House, the largest timber-framed town house in England. Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is the cultural centre of Stafford hosting comedians and live music. Here you will also find the 13 acre Victoria Park with a bowling green, play areas, bird cages, and greenhouses. With over 40 stores in the Guildhall Shopping Centre and 3 large supermarkets, there is no shortage of retail therapy.

www.rightmove.co.uk lists the average price of a detached home as £287,478 and a terraced property on average costing £146,568.

Brampton – A small town of approximately 4000 people situated in Cumbria. There is a 120-acre country park, Talkin Tarn, just south-east of Brampton which is perfect for recreational activities and also has a 65-acre lake. Not far from Brampton you will find Bank’s Turret and Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.

Average detached homes sell for £278,300 and terraced homes for £136,069 as reported by www.rightmove.co.uk

London SE1 – Southwark, Bermondsey and the South Bank, just south of the Thames make up the SE1 postcode district. As you would expect, every recreational facility you could desire can be found here, including the London Eye on the South Bank. In Bermondsey you will find Tower Bridge, The London Dungeon and HMS Belfast.

The average price of a flat is £731,358 and a terraced home £840,185 in SE1 according to www.zoopla.co.uk

You may also be interested in: 20 Things I Wish I had Known Before Moving Home

Read reviews of removal companies and get a home moving price quote estimate here.

Where are the Best Grammar Schools in the UK?

1. 

   Queen Elizabeths School, EN5 4DQ

2. Colchester County High School for Girls CO3 3US
3. Nonsuch High School for Girls, SM3 8AB
4. Beaconsfield High School, HP9 1RR
5. Kendrick School, RG1 5BN

Source: www.telepgraph.co.uk

Barnet – The largest London borough by population, Barnet is in North London. Within the Metropolitan Green Belt, there are plenty of parks and open spaces as well as 8 local nature reserves. North Barnet tends to be more rural. Within Barnet there are 86 primary schools and 22 secondary schools.

Expect to pay about £357,223 for a flat and £537,129 for a terraced home in EN5 according to www.zoopla.co.uk

Colchester – Claimed to be Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester is a market town in Essex. Regarded as a great town for commuters as London is only 50 miles away and Stansted Airport is only 30 miles away. There are theatres, sports facilities, a zoo, and art galleries all within Colchester.

Flats sell for £197,480 and terraced houses for £273,094 in CO3 according to www.zoopla.co.uk

Cheam – A mainly built-up area, Cheam is a suburban village in Sutton. There are a couple of extensive parks though, Nonsuch Mansion, tennis courts, a children’s playground, and football pitches can be found there. On Malden Road, you will also find the sports centre with squash courts, a gym, and a swimming pool.

On average a flat will cost £311,915 and £418,759 for a terraced home as cited by www.rightmove.co.uk

Beaconsfield – A market town in South Bucks, Beaconsfield is in prime commuter belt, being only 24 miles from central London. The larger towns of High Wycombe and Aylesbury, with all the facilities you could need, which are within 5 miles travelling distance. Beaconsfield is famous for having the worlds first model village and has provided the backdrop for many films including Thunderball and Hot Fuzz. There is certainly plenty to keep your interest piqued in the area, with London so close, the Chiltern Hills and Burnham Beeches nearby.

But steady yourself for the average home prices in Beaconsfield. In 2008 Beaconsfield was named Britain’s richest town and in 2011 Burkes Road was reported as being the second most expensive road in the country outside of London.

www.rightmove.co.uk quote £1,338,685.00 on average for a detached home and £615,605.00 for semi-detached homes.

Reading – A major commercial centre found in Berkshire, it is one of the largest towns in the UK without city status. Reading is only 40 miles west of London. With over 100 playgrounds and parks and 5 miles of riverside walks, 5 nature reserves and the Reading Festival over the August Bank Holiday, there will always be something to do in Reading.

In Reading expect to pay about £396,461 for a semi-detached home and about £325,919 for a terraced home according to www.rightmove.co.uk

Good to know: How to Choose a reputable Removal Company

It takes just a few minutes to get a price estimate for your home move here

Where are the Best Universities in the UK?

1. 

   University of Oxford

2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
4. University College London
5. University of Edinburgh

Source: www.topuniversities.com

Oxford – The ‘City of Dreaming Spires’ as Oxford is known is world famous for its university. As you would expect there are plenty of recreational opportunities in Oxford including many theatres, libraries, galleries, museums, and an ice rink. Oxford is at the centre of the Oxford Green Belt so has plenty of protected areas for you to enjoy.

A semi-detached home will cost you on average £487,306 and a terraced home £475,750 reports www.rightmove.co.uk

There is a great link on the gov.uk website which allows you to compare school ratings, taking into account exam results and Oftsed reports, by postcode or city.

This tool is particularly useful as it shows performance over a number of years so you can find consistently good performing schools for your child.

www.yopa.co.uk has a search engine to select the things that are important to you and your family when choosing a new place to live. It then plots them on a map and provides a table of results for comparison.

Useful information: Everything you need to know about moving to college

How to Find an Apprenticeship Near Me

Of course, not everyone wants to go to university after their schooling ends and an apprenticeship may be the route your child wants to take.

On average, an apprenticeship lasts between 1 – 5 years.

To qualify for an apprenticeship, which can be applied for whilst still at school, the applicant will need to be:

• Living in England
• 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays
• Not in full-time education

How to Find apprenticeships in England

Where to find apprenticeships in Scotland

Where to find apprenticeships in Wales

How to Find apprenticeships in Northern Ireland

Must have: Every Home Moving Hack and Tip You Will Ever Need

Where to Find Night Classes Near Me

Equally, you yourself may wish to learn a new skill to help find a job in your new town or city.

On www.findcourses.co.uk you can search local night classes by subject and location.

You may also be interested in further education and how to get funding. There is lots of useful information at www.gov.uk to help and guide you.

Must read: Tips for Moving Home with a Teenager

What are Future-Proof Jobs?

Helping your child to plan for a career is fraught with uncertainties. Technology is moving at such a pace that many jobs will cease to be carried out by humans in just a few short years.

So having taken the care to consider where to move home to for the benefit of your children’s education, now what be a good time to think about the type of careers they may ultimately want to go into.

Based on a survey by Indeed, the worlds largest job site, www.independent.co.uk has published a list of jobs that are unlikely to be taken over by robots or automation.

Here we list the top 7 jobs that should be future proof but visit the full article to find even more options.

1. Chef
2. Marketing, communications, and design
3. Healthcare
4. Education and training
5. Cybersecurity expert
6. Human resources

Must do: Get a free home moving estimate quote

Deciding where to move home to is a big decision and especially so when you have to consider your children’s education and future.

We hope we have made the decision easier for you.

Good luck and choose wisely.

Also Read

The Ultimate Guide to Moving to the Coast of Scotland

For those who love nature, history, quaint fishing villages, real community spirit, value for money homes, and a... Read More

Moving in With a Friend: How to Live With Friends and Remain BFF

Leaving home for the first time, moving out of university halls, or feeling lonely in your retirement may make... Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Alderney from the UK

Stunning scenery, a high quality of life, very low crime, and a great work-life balance. Alderney could be your... Read More