Moving to Harrogate, well now its Skipton!

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nitram
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Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:56 pm

Moving to Harrogate, well now its Skipton!

Post by nitram »

Hi, we are moving to Harrogate due to work, with new job starting in June. We currently live in Tunbridge Wells with 2 sons, aged 11 and 6. Our eldest passed his 11+ exam and will go to a local grammar school in Tun Wells.

We now find ourselves looking for an equivalent school in the Harrogate area. The secondary schools in the town are non-selective and over subscribed apart from the High School. We do not do 'church' so that option is not open.

There is Ermysteds and Ripon Grammar which are selective and means that he will have to take their selection test in April. Ermysteds is currently slightly under subscribed whereas Ripon is over.

I guess the usual policy for people moving into the area will be based on distance and available spaces.

The schools that we have spoken all seem to be at 'capacity'.

We have spoken to authority who just send their current booklets etc, but we are not really any further forward.

We visited Ermysteds last week and really liked it, but its really further out from Harrogate than we would like.

Its seems it's really bad timing to move and we are likely going to have to appeal, to try and get our son into a school which suits him.

Any help or advice would be gratefully received, as we excitement of moving and starting a new job/life are quickly fading, due to the worry of finding a school of our choice.
Last edited by nitram on Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Snowdrops
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Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:20 pm

Post by Snowdrops »

Hi Nitram

I shall pm you with details.
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hermanmunster
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Post by hermanmunster »

Hi Nitram

Welcome to Yorkshire ... and the forum.

Snowdrops has the Harrogate / Ripon end of the world sorted!!

You are right that Ermysted's is rather far away - it is a truly beautiful journey but tricky on public transport. Have you decided where you are going to live yet?

herman
Snowdrops
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Post by Snowdrops »

Just checked the buses out Herman and whilst they don't take that much longer, the first bus doesn't leave until 8.30 am - menaing it gets to Skippy at close to 9.30 am!
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hermanmunster
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Post by hermanmunster »

Snowdrops wrote:Just checked the buses out Herman and whilst they don't take that much longer, the first bus doesn't leave until 8.30 am - menaing it gets to Skippy at close to 9.30 am!
hmmm very helpful aren't they!!!! -
nitram
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:56 pm

Post by nitram »

We would like to live in Harrogate, that's as precise as we can say at this time! Visited the town/area at the weekend.

But we need to know our school options, which at the moment is the uncertain part of the puzzle.

If you dont have a local address then do they really consider you, even if you can prove that you are moving a job, have your house on market/under offer, actively looking in the area?
hermanmunster
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Post by hermanmunster »

That is a problem - if you go for an undersubscribed school and pass the test they won't care whether you are in truro or inverness.

If you are going for an oversubscribed school then you will need to be firmly in the area i.e renting or living in the patch.

Are you considering independent schools in the equation . snowdrops has had a good look at these - for boys there is Ashville (Harrogate) and Leeds GS (lots of kids from Harrogate) . oops that's all I can thinks of there are hoardes more for girls!
Snowdrops
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Post by Snowdrops »

There's also Queen Ethelburghas (co-ed).

Ashville's rated the best school in North Yorkshire though (on gcse results I think - it was on some Tory tripe pushed through my door today).
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hermanmunster
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Post by hermanmunster »

oh yes forgotten QE! they were advertising on TV the other day.

How did they reckon Ashville was the best ??? On A levels it is EGS / Ripon / Skipton Girls isn't it?

maybe as you say on GCSE as sometimes the dear boys just won't do the exams properly for english and maths :twisted:
Snowdrops
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Post by Snowdrops »

HHHmmm, another thought:

Have you looked on the York side of things? don't know what the schools are like there, but still commutable for your OH into Harrogate (direct train line and good road links).

Problem also this area is known as 'the golden circle' which is where 'everyone' wants to live as it's so commutable to Leeds and London, yet still in the countryside, as a consequence house prices are relative!
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