Moving to Yorkshire - choosing an independent school - choice of three - HELP!

[GlencoeMom]

So I know there has been a huge thread on Queen Ethelburgas but we are hunting for schools around York and we have narrowed it down to three choices:

• Queen Ethelburgas
• Ashville College
• Pocklington

We are really torn (and the comments on QE dont help!). I wondered if you had to choose or new the neighbour hoods if anyone had any advice. We liked all three but each are quite different. Our favored school is currently Pocklington but the facilities in QE are outstanding and the "feel" of Ashville was very strong... Arrghhh - any help appreciated? We have three children 10.13 and 14 and each want a different one so they're no help! Thanks!!

Where are you going to live?

Dont know yet - the intent is to get the school first and then rent a house nearby whilst we're looking to buy. Hence the stress of it - we go to York end December so time is running out. BTW we did look at all York schools but they had NO places for all three.

Ok. Are you very set on independent.? If you are considering ashville a lot of harrogate children leave private schooling at 11 and more out of area children come in.

Harrogate has 3 very popular high achieving state schools- all non selective. I do know about pocklington but the other 2 you mentioned are not highly academic and so I assume you want non selective?

Harrogate grammar- selective by postcode.
St aidans (c of e) and st John fisher (catholic).they do all take mid year applications but are all oversubscribed but will have places fo older children.

York also has some good state schools- very simple system- it is where you live.

If you want academic then leeds grammar?

The children are 14,13 and 10 so getting into a good state school is very tricky. On top of that one has dyslexia and one has a specific learning need so selective schools are probably not an option. We need good SEN support and schools that give good added value.
Would have loved them to go to St Aidens but over subscribed in all year groups.

Have you been to see st aidans?

Sorry that sounded negative! What I meant was that you should definitely try and look at st aidans.

Could they get to somewhere like Leeds grammar?

Xenia - will be working in York so we're trying to settle on places around York... Leeds is a bit far out I think for housing and then work....

If in York then why not St petes/ St olaves? super schools, or if you have girls the mount in york is one the best independent girls schools around. The york -harrogate journey is awful so if you are going to live in york i'm not sure i'd choose to put my children in a harrogate school, although Ashville has a lovely feel about it.
You could live Tadcaster area and send kids to GSAl on the bus, and commute yourselves to york in opposite driection.

Hello!
Just wanted to say that we have family in Pocklington, sending their kids to the school. They love living there, housing relatively cheap, very nice village, there is even a cinema and lots of amenities. The school is fantastic and their kids love it.
Good luck with your choice!

Thanks all for your messages - it came down to the wire because we flew back to the States today and we chose Pocklington (please dont say anything bad now!). Thanks emy for the reassuring comment!!

you'll be wanting this thread then.

We are thinking of sending our children to pocklington and I noticed you have - are you happy with your decision?