Independent schools , opinions/ advice Macc,CH, Alt,Stockport

[Spindlewood]

hello , we are currently living overseas and it looks like we may be relocating back to the macclesfield area . I do not know this part of the UK at all . We will have a daughter going into year 6 and son into year 8. So far I've heard of Kings in Macc but would be interested in any other school suggestions, experiences good and bad. Completely flexible as we will pick the school first then the house . I am literally starting with a pin in a map so any local knowledge is welcome and desperately needed . Also if you have recommendations on nice places to live as we will rent then buy . Thank you .🍰

[CheshireEditor]

Hello and welcome to the Cheshire pages! Here are some schools that are good:-

PRIVATE
The Grange Hartford - quite far from Macc, but the area is worth a look, buses from Knutsford
Altrincham Grammar (seperate boys and girls) Quie far from Macc
North Cestrian (same as above)
Alderley Edge School for Girls
Kings - as you have already said, would be your best bet without having to travel much further, even though some girls from the area go to Withington via bus.

Wimslow, Knutsford, Alderley Edge, Chester, Hartford, Congleton, Sandbach - all great

Does this help, hope so! Shout with any more questions.

Caroline - Editor

[Spindlewood]

Thank you that's a great help , will know more by the end of the month so will come back when we are definite . I appreciate your time .

[Spindlewood]

Think it's going to be more like South Manchester now, do you know the names of any school in the Knutsgird, Alderley edge area please?

[BeginTheBeguine]

Alderley Edge School for Girls (obviously all girls though). Kings is still ok from Alderley.

The most common ones will be the ones Caroline listed above - Cheadle Hulme, Stockport (mixed), Withington and Manchester High (all girls) and Manchester Grammar (all boys).

There will be organised coaches from most places to all of these. Roy McCarthy's have the Manchester contract from Wilmslow/AE/Macc, and huge amounts of children get these - I think about 6/7 coaches run.

You'd probably be better putting your DD in the junior department of a school, rather than putting her in a prep school for one year I think.

Pretty much every school will have entrance exams. How academic are your children if you don't mind me asking?

[Spindlewood]

I would say both are bright , but my eldest finds things easier than my daughter . Different strengths really . They have been on an International PYP and MYP curriculum for the last 4 years . Thanks for your advice .

[BeginTheBeguine]

I was just asking because there are a few schools I haven't mentioned that are very supportive for children who need extra help to reach their potential, but you'll have plenty of options

MGS definitely does the IB, but is only boys. Mind you, they're probably both young enough to transition to GCSE/A-level easily enough.

It might be worth getting hold of some entrance exam papers and seeing how they do. Have they done verbal and non-verbal reasoning before?

And would you prefer single sex or mixed, or does it just depend on which suits them?

Those are probably the main things to think about. We're lucky to have so many very good independent day schools in the area - you can't really go that far wrong!

[Spindlewood]

Thank you , I appreciate you taking the time to respond , the whole secondary system is all new to me and I'm learning as I go .

[mandy214]

Just for clarification of above, the Altrincham Grammars are not private schools, they're state.

As for your daughter going into Year 6 - I'm not sure many schools (certainly in Trafford which covers a lot of South Manchester) will have vacancies because lots of people move into the area for the state grammar schools. You may not have the option therefore of a junior school rather than going private.

I have a friend with primary aged DC at Yorston Lodge in Knutsford, they're very happy with it.

As others have suggested, the secondary schools listed above are completely different in terms of their academic reputation / pastoral care. For instance, girls at Withington will come out with pretty much all A*s so really for very bright girls. Alderley Edge is more inclusive and lots of girls who don't sit the entrance exams for the other schools (state and private) go there. I'd say Altrincham Boys and Manchester Grammar School are very similar academically, Cheadle Hulme is a good alternative if your son doesn't sit the exams / doesn't pass.

As someone else said, there is a myriad of schools to choose from, its just probably about going to visit.

[CheshireEditor]

I meant to add my son is in Year 9 and at Knutsford Academy and loves it, teaching staff professional and very engage, extra curric. great, in fact he's of on his Duke of Ed 2nd trip tomorrow!

[Spindlewood]

Just a quick update. Thank you for all of you who offered advice and options , after a busy week we are going to go with Kings. Very impressed by the school, children and the welcome and help they have offered to us . Both of my kids are super impressed by how friendly everyone in this area has been to us, in shops, pubs, etc. what a nice part of the world . 😀

[CheshireEditor]

Great to hear, wishing you all the best, good luck!

[Mbbcheshire]

I live locally, now you've picked kings 😊 I recommend you look at bollington, Tytherington or Prestbury as places to live.
Welcome to the area

[Malamalik]

Can any one give me an idea about elderly edge school for girls in academic level ?

[Hanster85]

Hi everyone,

I wondered if anyone might be able to give me some advice, I'm new to all this education business and know nothing about private / independent schools.

My DD's Grandparents have agreed to part- finance her attending a secondary private school (she's only 3 now), but this has left me thinking that maybe we should pay for her to attend the primary provision for consistency and stability (maintaining friendships etc).

But I don't think we have finished our family just yet & still not sure if we may look to have another baby next year. Grandparents have also said that they will part fund this child's secondary education. But I won't send one child to private primary and not the other (for obvious reasons) & couldn't afford to send two children throughout their primary education.

For this reason, we were looking at her attending a state primary and moving to private school for secondary but really anxious about the impact of this on her. We are looking at Cheadle Hulme School in Greater Manchester.

Does anyone have any experience of this that could share how they found this or any insight into how the system works - or in relation to this school in particular?

Obviously it's a lovely problem to have and we are very grateful, but no idea how to navigate this new situation!