North East thread 6: Everyone's welcome!

[Someaddedsugar]

Just starting a new thread for anyone who wants to join!

I'll have to have a look for the new bookshop this weekend when I'm in Durham!

I don't suppose anyone has seen a pumpkin casserole dish in a Home Bargains have they? A colleague is Halloween obsessed and it'd be the perfect birthday present from the team!

I will look at the new big one in darlington for you

Thank you @lifelongfrugaleer!

Sorry to de-rail the thread a bit but is anyone going through secondary school applications at the moment? It is stressing me out way more than I thought it would

No but I remember it well

Yes we are 3rd time for us so we're rather more relaxed. Went to the DJ open evening yesterday, Fram on Thurs and St L next week then let the child put them in order.

We're not there yet but I found the primary application hard enough! What area are you in @twistyizzy?

South Durham/weardale area.

Oh god 3 times! I don't want to go through this again lol

Is it competitive where you are? I remember DSIL requesting DNephew to be added to the waiting list for DJ but he stayed at St Bede's and loved it there.

I honestly don't know but there are very few decent schools. There are quite a few to choose from but literally only 1 I would be happy for her attend and it is touch and go with regards to distance. She is sitting entrance exam for an independent school but with possible redundancy on the cards we need a state option.

Gets difficult doesn't it. I know perfectly well that we went get in to DJ and though people used to get in to Fram from here they don't any more. It is definitely the illusion of choice for ds2. We're in a feeder primary for StL so we're as confident as it is possible to be that we'll get in, both our older ones did. Having had to appeal all 3 times for primary is it was rather nice to just be able to accept the place.

I hope you all get the places you and your DC's want.

I don't think it's helped for those of us just north of Durham that Fyndoune school closed as that means there's a whole secondary school cohort needing places elsewhere.

I'm panicking slightly as we'll need to do an in-year primary school transfer when we finally find somewhere to move to, but when I spoke to the admissions office all of the nearby schools are full. Not really sure what happens if that continues when we do move!

Oh no that must be worrying for you. Are they just re-allocating spaces amongst all the other local schools?

Did that become Federation in Ushaw Moor which was DCBC? That's where mine would get allocated of they weren't in the Catholic system.

I think so @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea - I think that and Fram are the schools that most kids from our village go to. Some do get into DJ but it's only those at the edge of the village who just fall into catchment area.

We've just been told to ring admissions when we move and they'll make something work. Will cross that bridge when we get there (and have everything crossed someone has a place 🤞🏻).

They should tell you schools are a headache before you have children 😂

Ha ha yes definitely

Ha ha yes definitely

Schools are so traumatic.
Hope you get the schools you want and nearby.
We deliberately put off moving for primary and although Catholic stayed put until we had the letter confirming places. Then we moved 5 minutes walk further away

Not sure anyone would choose Federation by choice!! Even Fyndoune with all its problems was better. The head saga was awful!
I was a nervous wreck at secondary choice. Not sure where all the children from all the new houses they are going to build will go.
On a very sad note a Doctor at our surgery died in a tragic car accident the other week. Just tragic.

I wondered that about the new estate at Sniperley - I had read they were proposing a new primary as part of the build plan but there's been no mention of a secondary.

We must use the same surgery @AlviarinAesSedai - it's so so sad.

Yes, very sad. I’m hoping they do a bench or something? I would have donated to a chosen charity. I really like a memorial bench.
The local Facebook page everyone was lovely. In time his wife may take comfort from it and everyone’s kind words. He was always really nice with my children.

But small world.

I would have donated too. He was fantastic with DS and very supportive when I needed extra reassurance.