recommendation of secondary schools in Cornwall moving back from Australia

[geordiesinoz]

Hi,
We are a family currently living in Melbourne, planning on moving back to the UK next year and considering Cornwall to live. We are not restricted by work so we could settle anywhere. We have 2 children aged 12 and 13 (ages when we return) and we want them to go to a good school where the community will welcome them and us as a family. I am concerned about the schools being oversubscribed and the admissions criteria. We like the look of Penair but would welcome any comments on any schools anywhere in Cornwall. We would prefer not to send our children to a private fee paying school even though they attend one here in Australia.

Also anyone who has done a similar move, is it better for the children to start school at the start of the academic year?

Both my husband and myself are originally from the UK but we have been living in OZ for 20+ years.

Cheers

Hi, a bit late in response but better late than ever! I moved down from London 4 years ago. Without naming schools, my son went to a top prep school in south London and my daughter went to a well know girls junior nearby. We lived in an area that had no decent local schools, I'm an Eighties comprehensive girl, but Had to draw the line! The pressure on my son, to pass exams for entrance to London senior schools were intense. My daughter had an awful time at her school, with my youngest about to attend primary, we made up our minds, Cornwall, a place close to our hearts. The schools here are good, we are lucky that we got our girls in to an amazing local primary school. My son does attend Truro School, private. But it's been brilliant for my son who has been able just to be himself. My advice to you is try not to get caught up ,which is so easy to do ,what is a good or bad school. It's such a personal choice but here in cornwall there is less of that intense competition and the feeling of failure if they are not academic. I will always encourage my kids to travel and we take them to London on a regular basis, essential that its not a foreign place and you need a passport! Good luck and you will know in your heart what to do.

Looe Community School in East Looe is good. Lovely little town too, with a lively community and very outdoorsy, surfer feel to it.

It's quite hard to choose a secondary around Truro - Richard Lander only moved to its new site in about 2007, so everything is very new and makes Penair look quite dated. RL have a fab website.

Primaries - Threemilestone is great, with many children of Treliske doctors there. This makes for a very culturally diverse mix (for Cornwall!), so worth considering. Alternatively there are small village schools like Devoran, Kea, Chacewater or Cusgarne if you like a smaller feel. Truro School pre-prep is also great, I hear from friends.

geordie obviously I have no idea which school/s your DC attend in Melbourne, but you do mention 'Christian schools' and vicars - I am assuming due to your reference to 'C of E' that they're Anglican or actual C of E as opposed to 'Christian fundamentalist'. If the latter- and I so appreciate this is controversial- be prepared to have to tutor your DC a lot to get them up to British state levels.

I lived in Queensland for years where all the private options (all 6!) were sponsored by religious organisations: Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran - and two 'Christian Colleges' which were educationally dire.

Since being in the UK (9 years, now), I have personally known 4 British families who went to test the Australian waters. Al have, for various reasons, subsequently returned to the UK. Their DC went to a mixture of state and private over there. At least one DC in every family had to undergo intensive catch-up tuition in order to get back up to speed with their British state peers.

I am not about to get into any arguments with anyone about it- I am merely stating my observations and experience. And recalling that, wonderful though the Australian people generally are, 'introspection' isn't a strong Aussie trait!