The education system in the UK is often in the news, either because there are not enough teachers to support the number of students or because the waiting lists for prestigious or highly regarded schools are growing by the day.  Parents obviously care deeply about the academic success of their children, and this is why the schooling issue is so often up for debate – as a community, we want to be certain that our children are being given the best education on offer.  We know that a good school can be the difference between succeeding in life or settling for second best – and that's why it's so important to choose the right school as early on in your child's life as you can.

Although it's often joked that parents expecting their first child will enter them on the waiting list for school enrolment before they are even born, this is a situation that is fast becoming reality. 

Depending on the area you live in, the degree of financial freedom you have, and the needs of your child, you may have to face years of waiting for a position to become free.  In the meantime, your child will have to survive at the local school, even if the standards are insufficient.  This scenario is what is forcing parents to move their families to different neighbourhoods or towns, as the search for a high quality school becomes more and more competitive.  The best way to avoid such a dramatic solution is to begin the research early, before your child has reached admission age.  Find the school that fits your family best, and enrol – don't wait.