Integrated primary school - East Belfast

[KathDrake]

Hi we are thinking about moving back to Belfast after twenty years in London. We have a four year old about to start reception/ P1 next September and we are urgently trying to work out which school to speak to if we do move back by September. We are looking at a house in Ballyhackamore. I understand Strandtown is P4 only, so wherr do people go before P4 in that area and were is good plus integrated. The other thing we are wondering is about is about the Steiner primary in Holywood as it’s only a ten minute drive away. Any thoughts would be amazing! Our child has been at a very liberal nursery for past three years which he’s enjoyed a lot as have we.

Thanks

[ColleenDonaghy]

I don't know East Belfast well, but if Holywood would work would Glencraig be too far? That has a great reputation.

[Holdingoutforholidays]

Thanks so much, I’ll check that one out.

[confusedlots]

Greenwood primary is a feeder into strandtown. East Belfast schools are majorly oversubscribed though, so you may struggle to get a place as you've missed the deadline for applying for September

[Mimiah]

@KathDrake Hi there. I went to Strandtown many years ago (in my 40s now) and I went to Dundela Primary School prior to P4, which is just a stones throw away.

[morey]

The feeder schools for Strandtown are Belmont Primary, Greenwood and Dundela (all P1-P3). Other options are Strathearn Prep (girls) or Campbell prep (boys) or primaries Holywood direction. Good luck!

[Holdingoutforholidays]

Thank you, are any of the three better than the others? I might start reaching out this week to them to ask about waiting lists.

[confusedlots]

You've missed the end of January deadline for applying for this year so you need to wait until places are allocated and then put in a late application, I think it's around April time. You can check the published figures of numbers applying and number who got a place for the past 3 years and see how heavily subscribed they are. But you're looking at 3 very popular primaries in a very popular area so you're probably going to have to start thinking about other alternatives

[Holdingoutforholidays]

Thanks, would anyone on here have any thoughts on Holywood Steiner? Thanks!

[morey]

I don't know much about the Steiner school- you would probably be best to visit as I believe it has a different ethos which suits some but not all!

[EBMum24]

Greenwood and Belmont are both excellent schools, the current drop in birth rate may work in your favour as neither are as oversubscribed as they have been in the recent past. My older DCs have both been through Greenwood & Strandtown and I’ve been really happy with both. Whilst not integrated they are fairly mixed and Strandtown partners with the local Catholic primary for communion prep for example. Depending on where you’re going to live alternative schools would be Gilnahirk, Orangefield or Holywood Primary. Integrated schools are a bit further afield, but the closest is probably Loughview.

[FirstFallopians]

The Steiner ethos is a bit marmite- I have a pal who teaches in one in a different part of Ireland and apparently the parents are very hard work… It’s not for everyone.

The preps could be another option if you’re struggling to get a place in state. Many will have had children move on over the last year due to the economic situation. Campbell College is boys only, but there’s Sullivan in Holywood as well, which is fairly close to the Steiner school.

[clipclop5]

My DD went to Downey House, it’s one of the 2 Methody prep schools (which is the most diverse school in NI). No formal integrated status but it is naturally + traditionally very mixed.

I can honestly say that sending DD there was the best decision we ever made - she had such a wonderful, idyllic and well rounded childhood, a huge amount of which I attribute to Downey. Kids are allowed to be kids - there’s acres of beautiful grounds to run about in and explore which no other school in Belfast has. Pastoral support is excellent, it’s a small school so all staff know each child and everyone looks out for one another. They’re not pushy or a hothouse when it comes to academics but all kids are nurtured and supported in order to get the best out of their abilities. Problems are always identified and dealt with early due to having a small teacher:child ratio. In DD’s year group of 30 (2 classes of 15) every child achieved a place at a top grammar school, with the vast majority also going on to Methody which is lovely in terms of continuity and building life-long friendships.

There is always lots going on extra-curricularly - sports facilities are fantastic with a huge range on offer and a big importance is also placed on the arts. All classes have weekly lessons with specialist teachers in French, music, drama, art, PE, games, ICT and swimming

[Jersey123]

We are in the exact same boat - moving from London after >10 years there with a 4 year old and home just purchased in Holywood. Looking forward to seeing where you land!

[Nyancat]

The three feeder schools for strandtown are belmont, dundela and greenwood which all feed to strandtown. The local catholic primary has a very mixed intake of all religions and none, if you want any info on it please drop me a message as my dc both went and we were delighted with it. Closest integrated would be loughview, a fairly short drive from ballyhack. But if you are moving there the best thing about it is that you can walk very easily to all of the above primaries along with campbell prep.

[NImumconfused]

Only just spotted this and you may have moved on by now, but I have a DD at Holywood Steiner. She's at the older end, and only joined about 3 years ago, so didn't go through the whole school but many of her friends did and are very positive about it. It's not a hugely Steiner-y Steiner school, if you know what I mean, the current head came from mainstream education and it feels like they've kept the good child centred stuff while swerving the slightly bonkers bits about gnomes etc. For primary I think it would be great and very fun, at the older level the choice of GCSEs is very limited and the academic standards are variable. Happy to answer any questions if I can.

In terms of a couple of the other schools mentioned on the thread, Glencraig is excellent, but always oversubscribed, and although Downey (and Methody) are very good, I believe it's closing down (Methody oddly had two prep schools, and I believe they're keeping the one on the school site and closing the one with the great grounds, presumably because they can make a fortune selling them off for housing). Prep schools here are all struggling to keep student numbers up I think. I also have a DS at Sullivan if you're looking for secondary info, not especially familiar with their prep though.