Advice on schools in the East Midlands?

[Pastarito]

I am thinking of moving to the East Midlands with from London with my family later on this year, specifically to the Ashby/Coalville area.
Has anyone got any advice about the best areas to move to in that area, and which schools to look at? We are Catholic but would consider non denom as well as are quite disappointed with ds1s current school (lots of bullying etc) so wouldn't necessarily continue with Catholic schools. What we are looking for is a decent, caring school.

I put this in the special needs section originally as we are also looking for a good nursery in the same area for ds2 who is 3.5, currently at school nursery. The reason for this is that he will need help to get through the reception year as he will be the youngest in his year and the staff at his school already have concerns about how he will eventually cope (particulary going into YR1 when they are really expected to work rather than play.}

I thought that maybe if he was taught to read etc on a smaller staff/children ratio in a nursery, it might be better than him trying to cope with larger ratios in reception. Then he might have a chance of going into Yr1 at a similar standard to the other children.

Any help/advice would be really appreciated!

Coalville has a very bad rep, I really wouldn't want to live there (I used to live in Loughborough); can tell you all sorts of neg. things about Coalville. I would try very hard to avoid sending my kids to any school in Coalville itself. Sorry I don't know about Ashby, maybe ok.

Dunno if Loughborough is an option...In Loughborough, because of the big grammar school (age 12+), all of the primary schools there are pretty "good"; the wider area attracts wealthy parents whose kids will tend to go to the grammar one day. Only 2 primaries in Loughborough I couldn't 100% recommend. But converse is that high school in Loughborough is a bit hurt by the drain to the big grammar high school (although the Lboro college had a student go to Oxford Uni. in recent years).

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Wouldn't touch Coalville if you can help it, but Ashby on the other side of M42 is v.nice as are surrounding villages, stick your search on that side of things if you can. I guess you need to decide a rough area to live and then start checking the area council lists as to schools etc, although thinking about it, I'm guessing they all come under Leicestershire, as roughly Nottm Airport (formerly EMA) down is Leics.

We live in Derby but DH works in Nottingham and I work out near East Midlands Airport. The schools in L'borough are quite varied but Ashby Grammar (which is actually a comp!) is good and we have friends who have moved to ensure they are in that catchment. If you stick to the villages around Ashby, e.g. Packington, Measham there are smallish village schools. Nearer L'borough Harry Carlton Comp in East Leake and its feeder schools are ok. It is worth remembering that parts of Leics still have the 3-tier system though.

Orinoco, which Catholic school are you talking about? There is one in Measham which got fantastic results this year but not previously. Was this year a one off or have they truly improved to that level? I'd like to get a feel of the school as well as I've learned with my ds's present school that good results don't necessarily mean a caring school.

Basically, we want to move near to my parents who moved to Ashby last year. Will steer clear of Coalville - thanks for the tips. Not sure now whether to go more Loughborough way or the other side of Ashby. The villages look nice (e.g. Packington) but very expensive.

I think she means St Thomas of Hereford which is in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Probably a bit out of your zone TBH.

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Yes, I need to be Ashby way or further south as I will still need to get down to London a couple of days a week. Derby is starting to get too far.
Do you know anything about private schools in the area?

Pastarito, I used to live in Boundary which is about 1.5 miles out of Ashby on the road to Swadlincote. My son is catholic but I was informed of a lovely school in Blackfordby which is CofE. It is a village school and only has no more than 50 pupils normally. My DS loved the school and the teachers were wonderful. Please consider this school. They stay in this school until Year 3 then move to Albert Village school which is in Albert Village.

Yes, we did the private school search. There is a private RC prep school in Coalville called Grace Dieu which feeds into Ratcliffe College. There are also very good schools in L'borough which are co-ed to 11 and then go single-sex but do drama etc. together and share a site more or less (search under Loughborough grammar). Also a girls' convent school in L'boro (Our Lady of Sion)

I think there are a few more smaller schools around Ashby and Repton and its prep Foremarke Hall are closeish.

HTH

Grace Dieu has a good reputation.. so does Fairfield (the private primary school in Loughborough).

My uncle and grandfather both went to Grace Dieu and Ratcliffe but I had wanted to avoid the private sector until secondary level. I have definitely got Ratcliffe in mind for later on, although I have no idea how difficult it is to get into from the state sector. DS1 (looking at his progress so far) would probably be ok to get in but not sure about DS2.

I will look at those village primary schools. They sound about right.

My understanding is that Ratcliffe isn't that difficult to get into academically. There are lots of selective schools around here and I have heard Ratcliffe being suggested as an alternative for those who might not do well in a very academic environment so I'm sure tranfer froma state primary wouldn't be a problem (in terms of exam prep etc.)if you were set on them going there.

Blackfordby looks nice magpumpkin. Did you like it there? Why did you move away (if you don't mind me asking)?

Thanks for all the advice. Where did your kids end up going to school marialuisa, and were/are you happy?

A girls' school near Derby and we are very pleased with the decision. DD is incredibly happy-oddly enough it is the school she chose (aged 3.5y!) on the grounds that it has a really nice outdoor play area! I am 99% over my guilt about not sending her to a RC school. We just go to mass with greater regularity now.

Good luck, friends and work colleagues seem very happy with the village schools in Leics.

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well guessed! We've been staggered at just how great the staff are, when I read some of the threads on here I do feel very privileged. I'm sure your DD is doing well where she is though!

Pastorito, We moved to Hampshire so had no choice. My DS stared reception with 8 in his class. Moved on through to Year 2 with still only 18. He really benefited from the small ratio of teacher/pupil.

My boys would definitely benefit from a smaller ratio. They are currently at a big, Catholic (oversubscribed) school and it doesn't suit either of them.

What was the name of the infant school in Blackfordby?

Does anyone know what the school in Packington is like? It has a good Ofsted but somewhat out of date.

My friend's DS is in Reception at the primary in Packington. They are happy with the school, smallish but not tiny, nice bunch of kids/parents; I've not heard them say anything negative about it at all.

Thanks marialuisa. That's been really helpful. Leicester county council are sending me catchment maps and so on so we now have to find somewhere to live!

Thanks everyone else as well! I'll be asking about clubs and things next (after school, hobbies etc)...