Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Good state primarys in/around Newcastle

32 replies

Mog · 21/02/2006 12:58

We're hoping to relocate to the north-east in the next 12 months to be closer to family. Could anyone give me advice about areas which have good primary schools? We can be fairly flexible where we live.

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 13:02

the coast (some schools)
tynemouth
jesomond
gosforth

Original poster
Mog · 21/02/2006 13:05

Lots of dh's family are in Gosforth so we've been looking there. Could you give me any names of schools to get me started?
Thanks

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 13:10

in gosforth they still orperate a first, middle and high school system as they do on the coast (I am a teacher on the coast by the way)

gosforth first and middle schools are all good imo
west jesmond primary has a good reputation

can recommend coastal schools if you like....

Original poster
Mog · 21/02/2006 15:32

Any recommendations would be great. Is there only one first school in Gosforth? Just need some names so I can start with the Ofsted reports.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mog · 21/02/2006 15:32

Any recommendations would be great. Is there only one first school in Gosforth? Just need some names so I can start with the Ofsted reports.

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 19:20

Hi there.

I will chat to my friend who teaches in the gosforth pyramid.

Tynemouth priory primary is meant to be good.
West Jesmond Primary
Most of the Whitely Bay first schools are good.

CAT me if you like

Mosschops30 · 21/02/2006 19:23

Message withdrawn

popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 19:25

ALso what age are your childnre....
while the coast and gosfirth are 3 tier there is the continued threat of goign two tier......

CAT me and I will giev you more info

Original poster
Mog · 21/02/2006 20:30

I don't think I can CAT as I haven't paid. My eldest has just started reception and the boys are 3 and 1.
Are you a Geordie mosschops? We've been trying to get back up there for years but it looks like it might be happening. I'm not from Newcastle myself (further north across the border ) but really love the quality of friendships you make there compared to the south of England. Hope it all comes off for us.

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 21/02/2006 20:31

email me at
popsycal2005
at
yahoo
dot
co
dot
uk

then i will send you my 'proper' email

Original poster
Mog · 26/02/2006 11:41

Popsycal is kindly finding some info for me. Also wondered if anyone knows about schools in Ponteland and what it's like as a place to live. I believe it has a three tier system.

OP posts:
Ailsa · 26/02/2006 20:38

Ooh, I like Ponteland, lived there for 7 years, went to Coates Middle (although Ponteland Middle is supposed to be better) and Ponteland High. If I could persuade Dh to move up there, that's where I'd send my kids. From memory I think there's 3 first schools, 2 on Darras Hall (on same site) and Ponteland First on North Road.
It's 3 tier at the moment, but the County Council are trying to go 2 tier.

I liked living there, not too far from Newcastle. Depends what sort of lifestyle you're after. It can be a bit quiet at times, but, as I said you're not far from Newcastle. Your kids friends will probably be from quite a wide area.

If you've got any other questions I'll try and help.

freshstart · 26/02/2006 20:48

Mog I live up the road from Ponteland! I am about to take my daughter out of school and place her in Dinnington first school which forms part of the gosfort three tier structure.

I went to visit it a little while ago and LOVED it.

Original poster
Mog · 26/02/2006 20:55

Thanks for the replies, good to hear positive things.
Can I ask, freashstart, why you chose Dinnington over Ponteland First? We've looked at Dinnington as a place to live and are still open to it.
How did you find meeting other mums in Ponteland Ailsa? We live in a village at the moment and I have quite a strong mummy network. Though Ponteland might be the same.
Also it seems many schools at that end of Newcastle have school nurseries starting at 3. Do you know how this works? Do they do full time from three or half days?
Thanks for any info

OP posts:
Original poster
Mog · 26/02/2006 20:56

Would you be able to say why you loved Dinnington freashstart?

OP posts:
freshstart · 26/02/2006 21:00

I havent even looked at Ponteland first thats a little bit too far from us. At the moment DD goes to another school near to where we live in the wideopen area. Dinnington is near enough to us as Dinnington is the next village along but ponteland would be too far.

The way the nursery works at Dinnington is for the first half term they go 5 days a week half days building up to full days as and when they are ready.

Im not sure what I loved about it - have good reports on it from everyone I have spoken to, a few of DDs friends were taken out of current school last year to go there and they are very happy.

It is smaller than current school, just one class per year group.

The headmistress is FAB.

When I went to look round every single lesson looked brilliant, the kids were calm and happy. Lots of emphasis on citizenship and ...... I dont know, I just really liked the feel of it!

Original poster
Mog · 26/02/2006 21:32

It sounds wonderful freshstart. If we did move up by September it means my older two could start at the new school together as middle ds was 3 in Feb and could go into the nursery. Think this would help my oldest in changing schools.

OP posts:
popsycalindisguise · 26/02/2006 21:36

in a rush - i have a friend working at coates middle

ponteland three tier system is changing soon
can get more info for you later

Ailsa · 26/02/2006 21:40

Sorry Mog, can't help on the mummy front, as I was still at school when I lived there. I left Ponteland when I was 17 and moved to Morpeth, then moved to Worcestershire shortly before I got married (in Ponteland).

Some of my friends at high school went to first school in Dinnington.

Mo2 · 26/02/2006 21:42

Mog
Have a look at the Ofsted reports for
Broadway East First School and
Gosforth East Middle

They are both very good schools - the First school in particular is described as 'Outstanding' by Ofted last year!

I grew up in this area (North Gosforth) as a child and can thoroughly recommend it for location/ accessibility (near to Metro line)/ A1 etc.

A member of my family also has a 3 -bed house to sell this year in the immediate catchment area for the school too, so let me know if you want more info!!

Original poster
Mog · 26/02/2006 21:50

Thanks for all this info. It really is very useful. I'll go off and read the Ofsteds now.

OP posts:
lunavix · 26/02/2006 22:00

I'm following this with interest as dh has a job interview next mon in newcastle.

How welcoming are they up there of 'southerners' I know in some areas (north and south) 'foreigners' are seen as just that!

Ailsa · 26/02/2006 22:15

lunavix,

Very welcoming! Good luck to your dh.

My dh warned me when I moved to Worcester that people here weren't very friendly towards 'foreigners'.

stramash · 26/02/2006 22:57

I'm looking at schools in Gosforth for dd1 who is starting preschool next September.
First Schools recommended by other parents are:
Broadway East ( got outstanding Ofsted report)
Dinnington First
South Gosforth First
St Charles' Catholic First
It's worth checking which middle schools your chosen school feeds into : Gosforth East and Central Middle are supposed to be vg but Gosforth West Middle on "special measures" since last Ofsted report.

HTH

Original poster
Mog · 28/02/2006 18:55

I've phoned for a prospectus for Dinnington first, Broadway East in Gosforth and West Jesmond Primary. All were very helpful on the phone. They all look like excellent schools from their Ofsted.

OP posts: