Newcastle relocation: choosing a secondary school

There is also a low cost private school in Durham that our neighbours child goes to and she rates they run like a no frills model I've always been a bit dubious about it as I don't get how it works but she thinks it's been amazing for him and he has semh needs would be a treck from RVI but they have a bus network www.igsdurham.com/

Unfortunately (and I am genuinely sorry that you are facing this @Pumpkinsiesta) the chances would always be that schools with places would be the less popular ones tbh.

I think you need to find out which schools in the wider area have spaces and see whether the commute is possible (and if the schools appeal). If the distance or commute is not feasible, and you absolutely have to move there in the next 12 months, and you don't want to HE or go private, then you may have to make a difficult choice. It's easy for people to say "gosh don't send your child there" but there may not be many options.

I don't know those schools at all – but sometimes when you visit a school it feels a lot nicer than reports and general views suggest. A friend of mine teaches in a fairly low-rated secondary locally but in fact, when I have been there and from what she says, it has many positives. Not least in the case of her school that lower numbers mean a real family feel and good pastoral support.

ETA that UTC may well be worth a look though – since it starts in year 10 you have as much chance as anyone of getting a place.

Also I had another thought after posting yesterday UTC which is city centre is a y10 plus college that doesn't have a uniform and has a strong nd contingent a friend's son is going there soon I think it's more science than arty but might be worth a look in terms of GCSE onwards www.nef.tynecoast.academy/

Avoid Benfield!!

I’m guessing that you or your partner are a medic who will be on-call to the RVI given the time constraints? If you are the medic have you tried to join PMGUKNE on Facebook?

My dc have happily gone through Longbenton High, just into North Tyneside. Both very different kids, eldest benefitted from pastoral support ++ and younger is v academic. Really can’t see how they could have been better helped. Eldest will now go to Gosforth Academy for Yr12.

DM me if you’d like further info.

I don't think either are great although my brother did his PGCE at Kenton and loved it and it didn't put him off teaching for life. Housing market wise I don't think it's as wild as other places (my in laws live down south so have some context) both my brother and my aunt have sold recently and whilst they both went to best and final offers after a few weeks it was like 2 offers no craxy bidding wars they were both fairly near asking price and one was in a very popular area. I'm Rightmove stalking a bigger house on our estate and it's just been reduced.. however having said that it is probably very local area dependent. Schools wise I would maybe look at Gateshead Northumberland and North Tyneside too might be a slightly better picture as generally they are less dense popular wise. Gateshead wise Whickham and Low fell would be a good shout and then Ryton/Blaydon up towards the Tyne valley

Yikes! That would be a no

@Pumpkinsiesta Eek, don't know Benfield but not heard anything good about Kenton recently...

Out of interest, which 2 schools had space?

I live about 5 miles west of Newcastle, on the edge of the Tyne Valley, my dc go to the local academy which is producing excellent results, they do have some decent SEN provision but they are very strict on uniform!

LOL @AndresyFiorella that's my dream too but £££££, that's why I live in a 80s house in Whitley
@Pumpkinsiestahouse prices and sales are very school catchment dependant

In Gosforth, yes to bidding wars, but not all areas will be like that. If I were to move back to the NE, I would definitely choose to live somewhere on the Metro, so I could commute without worrying about traffic, and teen children weren't reliant on me for lifts everywhere. My dream would be a lovely Victorian terrace near the front in Tynemouth, but they are so gorgeous I imagine they also have bidding wars!

Be aware the NE has a mish-mash of 3 tier and 2 tier systems. Northumberland has retained 3 tier apart from Ponteland (which makes me sad as Pontrland Middle was a great school!), Newcastle is almost entirely 2 tier now apart from Gosforth (GEMS is a brilliant school), although the Catholic schools there are 2 tier. I think North Tyneside is also a mixture, and Gateshead and Co. Durham (which could also be an option for you) are fully 2 tier. If you have a child in Yr 5 to 8 you'd be looking at Middle Schools for them in a 3 tier area.

@Pumpkinsiesta I agree. The Northumberland info is woeful! They have an application form for in year applications and do provide an interactive map detailing where the schools are. It’s not giving spaces though. There are phone numbers and contacts so I’d contact them. They seem bothered about catchment and transport! Catchment won’t matter if you are the only applicant and a school has 10 places - they take you. It’s poor they don’t have better info for in year or non standard entry.

I work at The university ( opposite the RVi). Live just outside Morpeth. Takes no more than 30 minutes straight along the A1. King Edwards is the secondary school there. Worth taking a look. Like others have said, Hexham may be a bit of a slog commuting.

If you move mid-year 9, she's likely to have to pick up a language again for the rest of year 9. There are also some schools that insist on a language for GCSE. It's probably not too late to change your mind about doing a language next year in her current school, and it might give you more options when you move. Other subjects she might be dropping are less of a worry, as they're probably easier to pick up again after a gap.

Sadly that doesn't surprise me at all. Good schools are usually oversubscribed.
Look at North Tyneside and maybe Gateshead as well as Northumberland.
Emmanuel College is very well respected, I have friends with kids there, but it dies have quite a strong Christian ethos if that is an issue.

Do you need to drive (I'm guessing you will if on shifts) or would the metro work for getting to the RVI?

I'm not surprised there is limited space; I believe the current year 8 is a particularly big year across England @Pumpkinsiesta which is not going to help you unfortunately.

What would be a good idea tho is to identify where might suit your younger DC and move near to that school (as long as the journey to the available school for DC1 is feasible) as that is something you can influence.

@Pumpkinsiesta I’m not in the NE, but my LA publishes a list of schools and what years there are vacancies. Obviously popular schools it’s 0 throughout but not everywhere. They update the list pretty regularly. So you will have a good idea about where to start. I think most LAs do this or there could be a lot of wasted applications and time.

Year 10 is a very bad time to move, as gcse subjects are chosen in Y9 abd classes start at the beginning of Y10 at the latest. If you can move school by Y9, then you’ll have the best choice over GCSE subjects. Options are usually taken by Feb half term of Y9, and allocated by Easter, or shortly after. If you move in Y10, your GCSE subject options will be limited to those with spaces left in the classes.

We live in Ponteland and kids go to school near the RVI. The school run takes me 20 mins in the morning and I get them there for 8am, home is around 30mins following a 3:30 pick up.

are you only looking at state schools or are you open to private? As there’s a private school 5 mins walk from the RVI.

Gosforth can be walkable to the RVI, as can Jesmond. But traffic around there can be a nightmare