warwickshire/Birmingham schools

[notanidea]

We might have to move to somewhere near Nuneaton if I get a job around there. I have no idea of the area. DH had a choice taking up a job in Birmingham, which he didnot(I had a major role in not wanting to move) but things have changed and I no longer have any objections to move. He might be able to get a job around there.
I have a DD in year 5 and was changed to an independent school last year and is doing very well.
People have mentioned various areas among them - Solihull, sutton coldfield, warwick etc.,
I want to know how long will it take to travel to Nuneaton from these places as the time given in aa route planner wont work in real life
Thanks in advance

[EvilTwins]

I used to teach in Nuneaton - Higham Lane Secondary School, which is (at least, it certainly was) very good. I lived in Leamington Spa, very close to Warwock. It was a 40 minute drive. Warwick School (independent) is very good, I believe - I had a friend who was a housemaster (?) there.

[notanidea]

How long do you think it takes to commute from solihull to nuneaton

[EvilTwins]

Probably about an hour. I'm guessing though - never actually driven it myself.

[llareggub]

There are grammars in south Warks.

I've been to Nuneaton a few times but don't know anything about the schools. Traffic in the midlands can be a nightmare but I do know people who commute from Nuneaton to central Warks and they don't seem to be bothered by it. We are at the heart of the motorway network so a jam on the M40 can cause problems all over the place. Traffic is a lot better in the school holidays!

[moosemama]

Hi, it takes about 30-45 minutes to get from Solihull to Nuneaton depending on the traffic and the route you take. The B4182 is a nice scenic route and not too traffic heavy. Do you know which part of Nuneaton the job is likely to be in though? Traffic around Nuneaton town centre can be pretty dire during rush-hour.

Solihull has a few good schools, but they are over-subscribed. The top two performing schools (that aren't private schools) are Tudor Grange and Arden. Both have just been granted Academy status.

HTH

[EmEyeHi]

I was born in Nuneaton (Whitestone area) and went to school (not Higham Lane but George Eliot very wide berth) and college (KEGs )there. Sadly, I would not go back.

There are some lovely villages around however - just into Leicestershire- Monks Kirby and Withybrook for example and they are only 10-15 minutes drive. Also, on the other side of town you have Fenny Drayton, Market Bosworth, and a number of other lovely villages, again between 15 and 30 minutes drive from the town centre.

What will your budget be? (you get alot for your money in the town itself) whether renting or buying. A little less so in the villages but it's still relatively good value depending on where you're moving from of course.

Is your job to be in the town centre? If on the periferies this can make a significant difference to your travelling time eg. if you have to drive through the town.

[notanidea]

If I get the job it will be in the hospital not sure exactly where the hospital is.

We are looking for a independent school (may be in Birmingham)

Has anyone had experience of private school in Rugby.

I know they have grammar schools in Birmingham and Warwickshire but we dont live in a grammar school area and even if I get the job we will only at the end of the year, which means that she will be well into year 5 and wont have had any tutoring which is apparently quite common in these areas. So she can try for grammar but our best bet is probably independent school(she was in state and was moved last year after few issues )

Any good independent school in the near by areas - is what we are looking at.The reason we are keen on solihull is that if DH gets a job in Birmingham, then it will equal commute for both of us.

[EmEyeHi]

The hospital is very close (not 5 mins drive really) from the M6 junction. Very easily accessible from Birmingham/Solihull/Coventry. You have a great advantage if you come from that angle in that you don't go near the town centre and really wouldn't encounter much of a traffic build up (motorway is very busy though).

Sorry, but can't be of much use re schooling though - mine was strictly state and exceptionally poor FWIW.

Best of luck though - road network is brilliant where you will be working so you will be able to travel a great distance in a short time, so really, you do have quite alot of choice and I feel confident that you will find somewhere that suits you and your family before too long .

[EmEyeHi]

EvilTwins - were you also a pupil at Higham Lane? Did you also go to a relatively local university? Just have a funny feeling you know!

[EvilTwins]

I did go to a relatively local university, but I wasn't a pupil at Higham Lane... I taught English there from 1997-2000.

[notanidea]

Thanks As I said I am not even sure I will get the job. Wait and see

[moosemama]

Hi again notanidea, must be George Eliot Hospital, which is pretty much in the centre. You could come off the motor way and then down the A444, which would just about bring you in to the back of the hospital.

Right, sorry, missed that you were looking at independent schools. In Solihull there is St Martins which is a girls only day school and from what I hear very good. A friend of mine went there and loved it - they have excellent results as well.

There is also Solihull School which takes both boys and girls from the age 7 to 18. It has the best results of any of the school in the area.

Am I right in thinking you mean Year 5 as in primary year 5 with one more year before secondary? If so, there is also Ruckleigh which takes children up to the age of 11. A friend of mine has three of her children there and the love it. Excellent teaching, small classes and all three of hers have thrived since moving there from state.

Two more independent primaries are Eversfield and Kingswood although I don't know anything about them myself.

Fwiw, there are some excellent state schools in solihull as well, so you have a lot to choose from.

HTH

[fsmail]

I live near Solihull and all the schools in the South of the Borough are worth considering in particular, Tudor Grange, Arden, St Peters and Alderbrook. The two independent schools are good as well.

[notanidea]

Moosemama yes it is primary year5
One of my friends colleague has her child in king Edward high and she is happy with the school
Can you commute to this school from solihull and how long it takes
Least I am happy that there are various options available
We will have to wait and see
I am ok to commute up to 30 to 40minutes

[dilemma456]

In Birmingham itself for year 5 the independent choices would be:

Bluecoats - co-ed very popular and over subscribed but sometimes has places open up

Hallfields - co-ed Lovely school, small classes and good grammar school entry results. Tends to attract very driven parents though

The Priory - co-ed goes through to 18 Catholic but takes all religions. Not massively academic, reputed to be very friendly

Edgbaston High School - girls only great facilities, selective and highly academic. Big school but manages to maintain a friendly environment (about 950 pupils aged 2-18)

St. Georges - co-ed very small classes, i suspect under subscribed. Not academic but has a very good reputation for dealing with children with special needs

Norfolk House school- co-ed - no very little about it but listing it so as not to miss it out

there is also Highclare but it is right in the North of the city

Most likely there are others but I don't know them!!

[EmEyeHi]

notanidea - good luck with the job, hope it happens for you.

EvilTwins - still have that feeling you know so am going to send you a PM. Hope you don't mind. Watch your inbox!

[notanidea]

Dilemma what are the independent secondary options as in no time we will have to change
How long does it take to commute to these schools from solihull
I really don't like change

[dilemma456]

I dont know how long the commute would take but its certainly doable - a lot depends on traffic. I'd say 40 minutes but you need to ccheck with someone who drives especially to find out how long it would take in the morning.

secondary - Priory, St. Georges, King Edward Girls (extremely competitive top of the league table), Edgbaston High, Highclare. There are also lots of grammar schools and a thriving tutoring industry if you decide to go down that route. If you are that set against change why not consider one of the schools that go through to sixth form. It might be easier for your DD to settle in the long term

[notanidea]

thats agood idea. I will most certainly take this into consideration.
Thanks for the reply.

[RedandGreenPlaid]

We live 3 miles from Priory/St Georges/EHSG/KE area, in direction of Solihull, and if I leave at 7:45, we can be there for 8:10. If we leave at 8am it takes 40-50 minutes, and has on occasion taken 1hr 10 minutes. Solihull is another 5 or 6 miles further away than we are. Would you be going on to Nuneaton after drop-off? Getting out of the area is horrendous too, particularly if you're heading off to the city centre, or M6...

KE Foundation Grammar Camp Hill (Kings Heath) is 6 miles from Solihull centre, so might be easier, but there are over 20 applicants per place.

Solihull School is very good, and there is a girls' grammar in Stratford upon Avon that people from South Bham/Solihull commute to (but opposite direction to Nuneaton).

[notanidea]

No I won't may be a school bus I like the idea of solihull school but their result are not as good as kehs school according to the school table

[senua]

Not many schools are as good as KEHS! They are usually somewhere in the top in the Country, never mind County.

Am I reading this correctly, you are thinking of:
moving house to Location A
working 20-odd miles away in Location B and
sending DD 10 miles away in a different direction to school in Location C.
Are you sure that is what you want?

[notanidea]

No my dd goes to a school 3 miles away from our house and I usually drop her two or three times a week. It is something i would like - live close to a school
Solihull school would be good if it is a Good school I don't mind driving 20miles to work.
I like the facilities that will available at solihull eg., nothaving to drive long distances for certain classes like swimming music etc.,
Dh might have to work nearby so he can either find work in the city or other place like warwick etc.,therefore I thought solihull would be good
I am not from this country and I have worked in the same place for the last 13 years . I don't have a job from December _ am really anxious about the place and the school we choose as don't want to make a mistake
I was going by the school table and thought if you are going to pay why not to the top school

[CaptainNancy]

In that case, you are probably better off within Birmingham rather than Solihull. But seriously- competition for KE is unbelievably stiff. Are you sure she can get in and will cope with the work once she's there?

I wouldn't buy a house until you know where she's going to school.

I see you're looking at hospitals for work (GE)... there are lots of hospitals in Bham too (though I 'm guessing you know this)

[fsmail]

I would stay in Solihull and use St Martins or Solihull School. I drive (often cycle because quicker) to work in Edgbaston every morning and it is awful, parents just have to dump the kids outside the schools because there is no parking. You would be travelling into one of the busiest city centres in rush hour. Alot of kids travel in by bus.

To be honest I would rather have a nice house in Solihull and use the state schools which are very good (at least 3 of the state schools have 100% GCSE pass rates and A'Levels) or St Martins if you have girls. I have friends with girls there and it is really nice. King Edwards is heavily over-subscribed and alot of pressure on the kids. If you want your kids to get A* (prime objective) only then go for it. If you want them to get a balanced, relaxed start in life, stick with the Solihull schools.