Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Newcastle relocation: choosing a secondary school

32 replies

Pumpkinsiesta · 23/06/2026 15:10

Hey, not sure if this is the right topic, but looking for advice on moving schools pre GCSEs.

We are relocating to Newcastle, we have not decided where to live yet but it must be within 30mins of the RVI. I would prefer to not be in the city itself, maybe towards Hexham. Two kids are in junior school, and whilst I think they have their own complications, the secondary school is the one causing the most stress currently therefore the school will influence our choice.

Currently my eldest is at a state school with no uniform. She has ASD and this works really well for her. I realise that there will be no schools without a uniform, but are there any with a relaxed attitude to it? Her current school has already picked it's GCSEs - so she will already have dropped a lot of subjects (including languages) by next year. A school with a strong arts focus would be the dream. Or a strong link to the outdoors.

I would love any advice on moving during y9/at the start of y10 - I really don't have a clue where to start. Around here a lot of schools are over subscribed - is that the case in Newcastle?

Thank you!

OP posts:
MustUseAName · 23/06/2026 17:05

I guess it depends on when you travel & where you want to go. I sail past on the bypass, and reckon 20 mins to the end of the A69 from that point. The bit from the A69 into Newcastle centre can take forever. If OP fancies the train, 30 minutes might be enough.

gingercat02 · 23/06/2026 16:05

MustUseAName · 23/06/2026 16:00

If you are considering Hexham, the school would be QE. It’s got a good academic reputation. However, they weren’t brilliant with our kids needs and uniform was a constant issue. They may be more enlightened about ASD etc nowadays.

Hexham is a minimum of 45mins on a good day. I do it regularly for work

MustUseAName · 23/06/2026 16:00

If you are considering Hexham, the school would be QE. It’s got a good academic reputation. However, they weren’t brilliant with our kids needs and uniform was a constant issue. They may be more enlightened about ASD etc nowadays.

gingercat02 · 23/06/2026 16:00

Traffic is a nightmare in Newcastle and the surrounding area.

30 mins is doable from here, according to AI, used to take me 50mins from the coast to Gateshead. The Tyne bridge and central motorway are full of roadworks currently.

Ponteland: An affluent village to the west/northwest, typically a 28-minute drive via the A696.
Cramlington: A large town to the north, roughly a 30-minute drive via the A1.
Whitley Bay: A coastal town to the east, normally a ~39-minute drive via the A1058, though commute times can increase in heavy traffic.
Central and Northern Suburbs: Areas like Jesmond or Gosforth are much closer (under 15 minutes) and sit well within the 30-minute window.

I.live in Whitley Bay. 3 tier, only one high school always oversubscribed. Gosforth is 3 tier too, again very popular. Gosforth High usually over subscribed but Great Park less so.
Lots of very good private in Gosforth and Jesmond, but no first hand experience.

Original poster
Pumpkinsiesta · 23/06/2026 15:52

Thank you for taking the time to respond - that’s really useful actually - I hadn’t thought of calling the LA.

She’s y8 currently - and for some reason I also didn’t think about schools starting GCSEs next year (despite that being the case in her school - around here it’s a bit unusual). Honestly, it’s the simplest things that I am just forgetting about because the task seems so mammoth.

OP posts:
clareykb · 23/06/2026 15:51

We live in Gateshead and my DC is in Y8 and has ADHD XP in Gateshead is a different sort of secondary school with no uniform my DC have friends from scouts who go there and love it. We looked and whilst I did like it wasn't the right fit for ours.

clary · 23/06/2026 15:27

I don’t know about schools in Newcastle specifically, but I think you could usefully start by finding out where there will be space. Once your DD is at a school (is she currently in year 9? so this is for this September?) you won't want to move her.

Where I live (East Mids so not helpful – tho there is a local secondary with no uniform) you would have a very limited choice of schools unfortunately, and it may well be the same in Newcastle. I would call the LA and find out, as the location of school spaces may give you a steer on where you want to live.

If you mean your DD is currently in year 8 and you are hoping to move in (say) six months’ time then the pressure is less.

I would also suggest that if you are moving end of or middle of year 9, you need to make sure the school does a two-year KS4 not a three-year one.

Sorry I can't be more specifically helpful but I would certainly contact the LA to find out possibilities before setting your heart on a specific school (I am assuming she does not have an EHCP?)