Schools In Runcorn, Cheshire?

[barbie01]

Hi,

Just after some info of any good primary schools in the Runcorn area. Does anybody know where people from Sandymoor send their children too? :-)

[Mousesmummy]

The schools most folk want to get their dc into are Pewithall (63rd in country) St Bertelines and Daresbury. The latter 2 are closer to Sandymoor by far so these would be your first choice on forms as Pewithall would probably be too far from you.
Hope that helps!

[barbie01]

Thanks for the reply, wasnt sure i'd get any.
Ah yes ive heard of Pewithall, don't they decide on the type of area you live in as to whether or not you get in (and i dont mean distance to the school)...although I understand its a normal state school so the 3 choice rule should stand :)

[Mousesmummy]

Pewithall has exactly the same admission policy as all other state schools

1)looked after children
2)siblings in school
3)distance to school

Having said that the majority of children do live fairly close to the school as it has an excellent reputation and consequently they are always oversubscribed. In addition the school is situated in an established residential area so lots of families in the area!!!! 2 years ago there were only 8 available places out of the 30 Reception places as there were 22 siblings in the year!!!!!!! That was an exceptional year but you get my point!
People do tend to try to buy near to the school.

As for Daresbury school it is in a far less residential area (was a village school originally until they built Sandymoor) and more 'out of the way' iyswim> Having said that Sandymoor is a large residential private 'estate' so LOTS of families there too!!!
And it is the sort of place where the parents I would say are fairly 'aspirational' iykwim?


St. Berts is near to another private development called Norton which is similar to Sandymoor - think lots of large 4/5 bed detached homes with large drives etc and consequently is full of families looking for good schools for their children too!

It is hard as Runcorn is an area of fairly high socio-economic deprivation with pockets of 'middle-class' families/communities. As a result lots of the schools are based within or near large council estates with high levels of social problems. The few schools who do not fall into this category are therefore highly sought after.

Having said ALL that I would not wish to disparage any of the other schools in Runcorn as I obviously do not have children in all of them! This is only my opinion after all