North East independent schools
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Sarah_Louise
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:35 am
North East independent schools
I've just recently joined this forum and was wondering if there were any members who are resident in the North East of England or those who use an independent school in this area?
Sadly we are one of the few parts of the world that has no grammar school options whatsoever so its either state comprehensive (few and far between being any good, sadly) or going down the independent route.
My daughter is only 4 and has only just started in Reception but I'm planning ahead and pondering what might be the best course of action for us as a family. I worry about the awful state of the two nearest secondary schools (which she would most likely end up getting in to going off the ole' postcode lottery). Hence looking at alternatives to those.
Just curious to see if anyone on here is in my part of the world or uses one of the independent schools in the area.
Sadly we are one of the few parts of the world that has no grammar school options whatsoever so its either state comprehensive (few and far between being any good, sadly) or going down the independent route.
My daughter is only 4 and has only just started in Reception but I'm planning ahead and pondering what might be the best course of action for us as a family. I worry about the awful state of the two nearest secondary schools (which she would most likely end up getting in to going off the ole' postcode lottery). Hence looking at alternatives to those.
Just curious to see if anyone on here is in my part of the world or uses one of the independent schools in the area.
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hermanmunster
- Posts: 12897
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
- Location: The Seaside
Re: North East independent schools
Hi and welcome to the forum! North east is a big place... can you narrow down the area a bit?
Re: North East independent schools
My thoughts entirely. And I was going to ask what the north east was too - I'm never sure whether it includes the various bits of Yorkshire or not.
Don't rule out comprehensives. The grass is always greener! Now living in an 11+ area in the home counties I miss the good comprehensives with a strong top end that certainly exist in Leeds, Newcastle etc.
Don't rule out comprehensives. The grass is always greener! Now living in an 11+ area in the home counties I miss the good comprehensives with a strong top end that certainly exist in Leeds, Newcastle etc.
Re: North East independent schools
Out of interest Mystery, which were the strong Newcastle comps when you lived there? (I went to one and am wondering how it's fared.)
All I know is that there is a comp in Durham which is absolutely outstanding - one of the best schools in the country, including all grammars and indies.
When I was growing up RGS Newcastle for boys and Central High Girls were considered the best independents, but that's going too far back to be much use.
All I know is that there is a comp in Durham which is absolutely outstanding - one of the best schools in the country, including all grammars and indies.
When I was growing up RGS Newcastle for boys and Central High Girls were considered the best independents, but that's going too far back to be much use.
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Sarah_Louise
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:35 am
Re: North East independent schools
Sorry about the late reply 
We're nestled between Durham and Newcastle (marginally closer to Durham). I know which comp you'll be referring to in Durham (I presume, anyway, there is only one that I'm aware of that ranks very highly) but we're WAY out of the catchment area for that one (and with the house being in negative equity it looks set that we'll not be moving any closer anytime before DD reaches that age).
I've attended a few open days and visited a few independents in the area (mainly Durham, a few in Newcastle) but they all pretty much said the same thing - bursaries go to the older children so they can tell whether they're going to excell at the school or not - which is a totally fair enough point). When I enquired it was before my DD had started in Reception so I fully understand where they're coming from. Paying for the fees in full is out of the question unfortunately so it would be dependent on us being granted some form of bursary.
The nearest comp that actually achieves well and that we are in the catchment area of is St Bedes RC in Lanchester but alas we're not Catholic (don't have any religion in fact). The two nearest comps are both getting merged into one in 2012 to become one huge Academy. Academically things might improve but ultimately my worry is its the same teachers, same attitudes, same kids (until they all leave!) .... so I really worry that things won't improve much at all. They boast about results that I consider embarrassingly low, year in, year out, they're in the local papers boasting about results that I would be ashamed to admit if I ran a school (seriously!
)
The only other alternative that I've been contemplating would be to move her out of junior school half way through (age 9) and apply for a Middle School in our border county - Northumberland (which currently runs on a three tier system). There are some wonderful Middle Schools which I would be more than happy for her to attend in the hope that they "fed" her into Q.E. High School in Hexham (although again, academically the school doesn't fair as well as the independents in our area, it is a far nicer school with many outstanding qualities and certainly boasts higher achievers than those attending the two local comps/soon to be huge academy).
Mystery, can I ask which good comprehensive(s) you are aware of in Newcastle? The only one I'm aware of (with no religious affiliations anyway) is in Durham. I'm not native to the North East though so any local knowledge would be much appreciated!
We're nestled between Durham and Newcastle (marginally closer to Durham). I know which comp you'll be referring to in Durham (I presume, anyway, there is only one that I'm aware of that ranks very highly) but we're WAY out of the catchment area for that one (and with the house being in negative equity it looks set that we'll not be moving any closer anytime before DD reaches that age).
I've attended a few open days and visited a few independents in the area (mainly Durham, a few in Newcastle) but they all pretty much said the same thing - bursaries go to the older children so they can tell whether they're going to excell at the school or not - which is a totally fair enough point). When I enquired it was before my DD had started in Reception so I fully understand where they're coming from. Paying for the fees in full is out of the question unfortunately so it would be dependent on us being granted some form of bursary.
The nearest comp that actually achieves well and that we are in the catchment area of is St Bedes RC in Lanchester but alas we're not Catholic (don't have any religion in fact). The two nearest comps are both getting merged into one in 2012 to become one huge Academy. Academically things might improve but ultimately my worry is its the same teachers, same attitudes, same kids (until they all leave!) .... so I really worry that things won't improve much at all. They boast about results that I consider embarrassingly low, year in, year out, they're in the local papers boasting about results that I would be ashamed to admit if I ran a school (seriously!
)The only other alternative that I've been contemplating would be to move her out of junior school half way through (age 9) and apply for a Middle School in our border county - Northumberland (which currently runs on a three tier system). There are some wonderful Middle Schools which I would be more than happy for her to attend in the hope that they "fed" her into Q.E. High School in Hexham (although again, academically the school doesn't fair as well as the independents in our area, it is a far nicer school with many outstanding qualities and certainly boasts higher achievers than those attending the two local comps/soon to be huge academy).
Mystery, can I ask which good comprehensive(s) you are aware of in Newcastle? The only one I'm aware of (with no religious affiliations anyway) is in Durham. I'm not native to the North East though so any local knowledge would be much appreciated!
