Local Primary Schools (esp Acomb/Dringhouses/Heworth/Hempland)

[Mutters79]

Hello there,
The kiddies (15mo and 3.5yo) and I are moving up to York (from the Midlands) to join DH who began a new job in Leeds this spring.

Our eldest will start school in Sept 17. We've spent a couple of weekends in York and have decided that we like the following areas: Holgate/Acomb border; Dringhouses; Heworth/Stockton Lane (and Bishy Road, but I don't think our budget will stretch to a garden for our littlest who likes to be out in all weathers!) there!

I've a local friend who has given me lots of brilliant information, but I'd love to know whether anyone has any opinion on the following schools? I've obviously read the Ofsted Inspections but I know these aren't always the best indicators... Much rather hear what Mums, Dads, carers and children feel. I'll be visiting too, of course!

We're looking at Acomb, Dringhouses, Heworth and Hempland in the first instance. Are there any others I should be thinking about in those areas?

Any thoughts would be sooo welcome. Thank you so much!

[froggylegsandpizza]

Heworth is lovely, but small, and doesn't have a field. They have split class (eg year 1/2 year 2/3) but parents I've known there don't seem to find it a problem. It's c of e so some places are allocated on faith grounds but if you live quite close then you stand a reasonable chance of getting in.
Hempland is becoming an academy if that bothers you! From what I know it's got an intake of fairly affluent families from the Stockton lane area, and is pretty oversubscribed every year. It has a deaf centre which benefits the whole school.
Lord deramores is also worth looking at on that side of town.
I also know people at acomb who are really happy with it.
I knew someone who moved house purely for dringhouses school so it most have been good, but that was some ago.
My knowledge is not massively up to date though, we're past that stage now!!

[Mutters79]

Thank you so much froggylegsandpizza. I shall check out Lord D's too! So much choice - we currently live in a village with just the one tiny CofE School and I've always wondered whether somewhere larger would suit DD a little more. Might put Heworth area in the back burner for now. Thank you so very much!

[Surrealistrhinoceros]

I have a friend who has seen four children through Acomb Primary and is a very happy customer. The other Acomb primaries are more mixed and you may want to think about secondary catchments - York High is not an awful school, but a lot of the others are to be preferred. Millthorpe is really on the up if you're looking at Holgate area.

If you're looking at Deramores you might also look at Fishergate - not quite in your preferred areas but a school I'd always recommend.

[Mutters79]

Thank you surrealist. I shall do, indeed. Lovely to have choice!

[thisisweird]

Heworth is very small and you'll need to live close. Hempland, as has been said, is usually oversubscribed. You would get a nice family house near there though with a garden.
I don't know anything about Acomb except that I too had a friend who was keen to get their dc in to Dringhouses.
The other primary that's very nice is Park Grove. Decent size, just gone to 'good' in Ofsted and always had a nice vibe to it. No uniform. They have some mixed classes. They also have a good field and very smart facilities.

[Mutters79]

Such useful information thisiswierd. Thank you. I've asked to visit a couple of places this term, but it's mainly been suggested that I wait till the Autumn, so looks like I'll be going on area and reputation: as such your comments are all so very valuable!

[Surrealistrhinoceros]

Well, the good news is that there are very few bad schools in York - you are mainly looking at good and better options, so if you pick an area you like there's likely to be a good school in the vicinity. Parts of Acomb and Tang Hall are probably the main exception to that.

[Mutters79]

Really interesting to hear that Park Grove has achieved a 'good'. I'd not really looked north as their seemed to be less 'good' schools up there. Is anyone able to suggest any 'nice' (so subjective, I know) locales within a mile or two of central York, but North?

Ridiculous to pay too much attention to Ofsted (I'm a teacher!) but, without knowing anyone/being so far away, there's not much to go on!

Really grateful for all the information.

[froggylegsandpizza]

You could look at Huntingdon primary?

[Mutters79]

Me again - sorry!

I wondered if any of you might have any opinion on Pre-Schools in the Heworth/Stockton Lane area?

Thank you if you take the time to reply!

[froggylegsandpizza]

Your options are:
Stockton lane playgroup. In a church hall, had got a bit stuck in its ways but had a shake up last year. Has good relationships with heworth, Hempland and tang hall schools. Very inflexible session times.

Burnholme nursery. nursery environment, so babies through to pre school. Lovely nurturing staff, very flexible times, lots of play and craft but less formal stuff.

Tang hall and st aelred schools both have school based nursery classes, so great for a child who is fairly mature and keen to go to school and have something a bit more formal than nursery. But if you don't intend to go to those schools then your child will start reception knowing no one.

[froggylegsandpizza]

Daisy chain nursery also has an excellent reputation but you'd have to check whether they have term time only places on pre school funding, or whether you'd also have to pay for holidays.

[Mutters79]

Amazing info. Precisely the sort of thing I need to know! Thank you.

[Awks]

My daughter has taught at Heworth and is now at a village 4 miles from York which is amazing. The classroom opens out onto the field and they keep chickens and grow stuff. It's idyllic, absolutely idyllic.

I grew up in tang Hall, and that wasn't but it's fine now :) Hope you love it here, the rest of us do