Where to live?

[MarkT]

Where to live
So an IT worker, working along the M4 corridor, mostly working in and around Reading. 2 kids one primary and one secondary.
Want a 3 bed semi with garage and drive, guaranteed catchment area access to an ofsted rated one (or two at a push if absolutely essential but no worse) primary and secondary school. Want to live within walking distance to a train station.
Within commuting distance (say an hour by car) of such jobs, and meeting these requirements, where is the cheapest place to live? Or selection of the cheapest places?
Any ideas?
Cheers

Trust me, having a 1 on the Ofsted just proves they are particularly good at lying to the inspectors. My eldest has been bullied out of three schools because of his Autism, by far the worst was the cat 1 school. Arrogant doesn't describe the head.
Better off going to the school as the kids come out and see what's going on and talk to existing parents.

[BrilloPad]

Trust me, having a 1 on the Ofsted just proves they are particularly good at lying to the inspectors. My eldest has been bullied out of three schools because of his Autism, by far the worst was the cat 1 school. Arrogant doesn't describe the head.
Better off going to the school as the kids come out and see what's going on and talk to existing parents.

This also happened to my autistic son - who is now at secondary.

My wife's best friend talked us through the OSFTED complaint process and the best way of phrasing the complaint. The school dropped a grade the next year.

[I just need to test it]

Where to live?

Bristol is an hour away from Reading. And when that fancy-dan railway electrification happens it'll be 15 minutes less.

[CoolCat]

If work was always near Reading station then maybe these ideas would be worthwhile. But back to the original spec of somewhere within roughly an hours drive where is the cheapest place? OK will accept somewhere where all the schools are 2, but keeping away from the 3's and 4's (to do a big picture scan like this its necessary). When there is a shortlist of places more investigation can be done.

[portseven]

Try Northern Ireland ... 12.5% Corporation Tax!!!

[SueEllen]

If work was always near Reading station then maybe these ideas would be worthwhile. But back to the original spec of somewhere within roughly an hours drive where is the cheapest place? OK will accept somewhere where all the schools are 2, but keeping away from the 3's and 4's (to do a big picture scan like this its necessary). When there is a shortlist of places more investigation can be done.

Gosh you are so lazy.

Get in your car with your other half and do a drive around the area.

Identify places you like the look of, then look them up.

[Bacchus]

If work was always near Reading station then maybe these ideas would be worthwhile. But back to the original spec of somewhere within roughly an hours drive where is the cheapest place? OK will accept somewhere where all the schools are 2, but keeping away from the 3's and 4's (to do a big picture scan like this its necessary). When there is a shortlist of places more investigation can be done.

Out of curiosity WTF would you want to live in the CHEAPEST place??? Surely the best or the best value.

If you want cheap stay in Reading, get a place down the Oxford Rd, get your kids into Bluecoats, otherwise go and live somewhere nice like Henley and get the best house you can afford.

[AtW]

Where to live Any ideas? Cheers

Monaco

[MicrosoftBob]

Gosh you are so lazy.

Get in your car with your other half and do a drive around the area.

Identify places you like the look of, then look them up.

Quite I was doing that when I was working a good 7 /78 hours drive away from where I wanted a house

Worst case do it at the weekends, it's your future choose wisely

[fullyautomatix]

Gosh you are so lazy.

Get in your car with your other half and do a drive around the area.

Identify places you like the look of, then look them up.