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Schools in Warwickshire

28 replies

mexicantortoise · 27/06/2009 08:59

We are probably going to move to the area in a few months and i was wondering how hard it is to get a school place, preferably in a catholic school. My dc's will be in yr2 and reception. Thank you!

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LunarSea · 27/06/2009 09:25

Well it depends where abouts in Warwickshire you're talking about!

Have a look here and look at the admissions booklet for the area you're thinking of. It noy only lists contact details and admission policies for all the schools, and gives an idea of how popular they are from last year's application figures, but there's information about how to do in year transfers too. Then you could just call the schools and ask.

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 09:28

Where do you want to live?

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mexicantortoise · 27/06/2009 09:36

Thank you for your responses. We were thinking of leamington spa or thereabouts. Where we live now schools are massively oversubscribed and I worry we won't find a place for the girls at a good school. Is it like that in warwickshire ?

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mexicantortoise · 27/06/2009 09:37

Very helpful link lunarsea. thank you !

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fruitstick · 27/06/2009 09:41

We are renting in Warwickshire at the moment and making the very same decision (although have 2 younger boys).

Schools in Leamington don't seem to be that great as I think lots of people send their kids to private schools. Schools in Rugby are much better (Rugby High School is a girls grammar and one of the top in the country) but the town isn't as nice.

On the upside the houses are much cheaper and it's only 20 minutes drive to Leamington if you need a Space NK .

There is also Princethorpe College which is halfway between Rugby and Leamington. It's a private Catholic school but I think they do do scholarships (don't quote me on that!).

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CherryChoc · 27/06/2009 09:48

Hello, I live in Warwick/Leamington and went to school in Warwick so can let you know about some of the local schools from that perspective! I am afraid I don't know about catholic schools though Trinity the Catholic secondary school was very good when my friends were there.

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 09:49

Kenilworth has the private junior school to Princethorpe. Its called Crackley Hall I think.

I don't know a great deal about the schools in Leamington but the schools in Warwick aren't bad. I don't know what the Catholic ones are like as I haven't met anyone from there yet and my children are both in pre-school.

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fruitstick · 27/06/2009 09:51

llareggub - we are going to look at some houses in Warwick this week.

What's it like to live there? I worry slightly it will always be full of tourists. Are there lots of things to keep preschoolers occupied?

We have moved from London for more space and a bigger garden but I worry in Warwick we will have the same situation as we left.

Sorry tortoise for hijacking your thread

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 10:05

I love it!

The tourists are contained nicely by the castle, which offers a very reasonably priced season ticket so handy for entertaining pre-schoolers. We go there at least twice a week. St Nick's Park is across the road from the castle and is great for children. We also exercise the kids in the middle of the Racecourse as it is common land for the use of the town.

Warwick has quite a few things for pre-schoolers to do. There is a toddler group every day. Hatton County World also has a season ticket deal, which DS loves. We visit the National Trust places quite a bit too. Stratford isn't far and there are loads of things for little ones to do.

I like Warwick because it is close to everywhere. We can get to Birmingham in 20 minutes or so on the train (Thinktank, Sea Life Centre) and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Is there anything you specifically wanted to know? What areas are you thinking of? Some schools are better than others. Coten End is very good and presumably you'll want to be in the Myton catchment. If private schools are your thing then you might want to consider staying in the CV34 postcode as this qualifies you for massive fee discounts at the Warwick Schools Foundation (Warwick Prep, Kings High and Warwick School)

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LunarSea · 27/06/2009 10:14

I think llareggub has said it all really. There are several catholic primaries arund Leamington/Warwick, and a catholic secondary (Trinity) too. Trinity actually takes quite a lot of non-catholic pupils too - especially from the adjacent non-catholic primary (Brookhurst).

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fruitstick · 27/06/2009 11:40

The house we are looking at is in the Westgate catchment which does look that great. But it's only 1/2 a mile from Coten End. Is Coten End really oversubscribed? Is there any chance of getting in if you're not in the catchment?

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 15:35

If it is in the Westgate catchment then you won't be far from Newburgh Primary, which has improved dramatically in recent years due to the new Head. You probably wouldn't get into Coten End, but you never know! Also your prospective house won't be very far from mine, so if you buy it I shall provide you with a housewarming cake!

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CherryChoc · 27/06/2009 17:50

I went to Coten End It was a great school. I also moved to Newburgh in year 6 and I'd say it's a good school but - without sounding snobby - the kids that went to Coten End were much more middle class and I didn't feel I fitted in very well at Newburgh. I don't know much about Westgate but the Children's Centre is based there! It's a lovely building.

Wherever I have lived in Warwick I've never found it that full of tourists. Stratford is much worse on that count - I avoid it during summer weekends because it's too busy.

I love living here, I have to say. When we were at Secondary school we all used to say it was rubbish and there was nothing to do but now I am older I appreciate it more (and I'm only 21 ) - there really is everything, good towns for shopping, countryside, great train connections via Leamington and Warwick Parkway, (also W. Parkway does deals for the train to London, good for visits to friends?) loads of stuff for little ones.

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 18:09

cherrychoc, there is a picture on your profile that looks like it was taken by the lake near my house.

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CherryChoc · 27/06/2009 18:25

It probably was is it a man-made lake by a very new (ie opened in last 2 years) pub? My Mum lives on that estate too.

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llareggub · 27/06/2009 18:37

It is indeed!

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blithedance · 29/06/2009 23:25

We have relatives who's children are at Kenilworth school - they've just got stunning GSCE grades so you might want to think about that catchment.

Warwick and Leamington are great small towns - certainly will feel different to London don't worry.

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Lulu10 · 23/04/2011 00:10

Hi there
This is all very useful - even though messages were posted a couple of years ago now... Does anyone have any info on All Saints Primary School in Warwick as it will be the nearest school to us? I have a daughter who is going into Yr 3 in Sept 2011 and we're moving to the area from London - very anxious!!!
Much appreciated

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llareggub · 23/04/2011 00:12

They are all ok here, nothing to worry about. Feel free to send me a message if you need any other information.

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Lulu10 · 24/04/2011 11:47

Thanks for that, IIareggub, very reassuring! I was just wondering why All Saints Warwick don't seem to have a website... I know it's not super important but seems ununusual in these modern times...
Lulu10

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LunarSea · 25/04/2011 21:59

All Saints is quite a small school (just Juniors, not all the way through as a primary). You'll find a bit on the church website maybe? www.allsaintsemscote.com/apps/blog/

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MrLSG · 26/04/2011 06:49
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ezmobie · 30/12/2012 10:37

Hi everyone,
We too are hoping to move to Warwick in early Spring 2013. I have a 3.5 year old and baby due in May. I would ideally like to find a pre-school place/nursery/childminder for my 3.5 year old until she goes to school in Sept, then obviously a reception place. So my questions if anyone can help are:

  1. Does anyone have any recommendations for pre-school/nursery/childminder and know how easy it is to get a place?
  2. How easy is it to get a reception place if you have missed the application deadlines in Jan/Feb? (ie via waitlists)
  3. Long-shot here, but does anyone know of anyone who might have a 3 bed house/flat coming up for rent in Feb/March/April 2013 time, preferably in the catchment of a good primary school?
  4. Are there any good groups to meet mums-to-be or other mums of pre-schoolers in Warwick?
    Any advice much appreciated!
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yousmell · 30/12/2012 18:21

I've lived in Warwick and Leamington and the schools seemed great.

Secondary level - Kenilworth and Myton have good grades and reputation but actually most seem good

Primary level - Coten end school is outstanding. Can't remember other primary schools but if you google sats results and warwickshire, you'll get a list

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Fuzzymum1 · 02/01/2013 20:47

There is a catholic primary school in Southam, about 10 miles from Leamington. It didn't have a great reputation but is apparently improving due to new leadership in the last few years. I have no personal experience of it though. There are some lovely non-RC schools in the town and surrounding villages too.

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