Primary/First schools in Newcastle

[jojochanel]

We're planning on moving to Gosforth in Newcastle in the summer. My eldest will be turning 4 in August and I wanted him to start reception in the September at a state primamry/first school. Can anyone recommend a good school?

I've been on the civic centre website and the options for us seem to be South Gosforth, Broadway East and Gosforth Park. I can see I'm already late for applying and no doubt they're be over subscribed but we're still living in Scotland just now and the move isn't 100% confirmed.

Has anyone got any views on these schools, advice etc. as we're completely new to the area?

[Peckarolloveragain]

All three very popular schools! Good luck!

[bellissima]

Gosforth still has the first/middle/high school system, ie you move at 9 and then again at 13 from the 'ordinary' schools (cos it used to be part of 'Northumberland' rather than Newcastle, which has primaries up to year 6). Think South Gosforth fine (need other Geordies to confirm). Better in the league tables, I believe, are Archbishop Runcies (Cof E) and argh the RC one - St Charles. Both these might go up to Year 6. I think the most important thing is the middle school you feed to before Gosforth High - which actually depends on where you live rather than the primary you go to - you want East or Central not West (now renamed -?Junior). Having said that, Gosforth High is a good secondary.

As you can see I'm not entirely on the ball about all this as I lived in Jesmond and went to West Jesmond, which I loved but which has recently knocked down it's old buildings and replaced - feel like part of my childhood torn down .

[jojochanel]

Thanks - I was aiming for gosforth high as the end point for them and had looked at the map and thought East or Central would be the middle schools. Good to know it's based on where you live though rather than just random. I hadn't though catchments applied in Newcastle as that's what the estate agents told me (but to be honest they weren't much use - they just said 'all newcastle schools are good' - helpful!!). I'm planning on calling the council on Monday so I'll ask about the catchments for East and central. All of this is new to me cos it's first time trying to find a school and it's dawned omn me that we've sort of got to find the school first and then buy a house round it....

[bellissima]

It does go on where you live - at least I'm fairly sure because my niece was at the first school on Archibald Street and she and some friends went to Central and others went to West even though they all wanted the former - it seemed to depend how far west from the High Street you were (although she was a few streets west - and still got Central ie the High Street is not the actual border although it probably varies slightly each year depending on numbers). In fact they all end up at Gossie High - so not the end of the world by any means - but tis said that depending on middle school some are better prepared than others.

[qumquat]

I went to Gosforth East Middle, had a fantastic four years! I have a friend who teaches there now and it's still a wonderful school. Afriad I lived somewhere else for First School so can't even give you my very out of date info.