Hi Steve,
I am in exactly same situation as yours. But I have doubt with the scenario you explained. Let me know if this is correct:
- you currently have tier 2 ICT, your wife T2ICT Dep
- your wife will apply for academic course, get T4, you change to T4 Dep
- after you get T4 Dep, you (depending on your employer CoS) could change to T2G
- your wife change to T2G Dep
I feel this is not seen as red-flag or to say a way around current visa norm. With UKBA coming with stricter norms every year hope such changing of Visa category so often not counted against you. If it works, I will follow the same. My wife is enrolling for PHd
Good Luck