Schools - Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Macclesfield

[alyanj]

We are possibly moving back to the UK after 10 years in the USA. 2 daughters will be entering 6th form and year 8. Both ae currently at private co-ed quaker schools - very inclusive, friendly, community based. It will be a BIG cultural shift for them so I am looking for schools that will be accepting and nurturing rather than academic hot-houses. Older one very academic and artistic (into social justice issues and photography), younger one more shy and passionate about music, ballet and animals!
We're hoping to live outside the city - maybe towards the Peak District but feel very overwhelmed as we don't know the area. Any advice will be very welcome. I've read good things about Stockport Grammar and Cheadle Hulme - I'm assuming we'll be too late to get into good state schools as we won't have an address until much later.

Come to Knutsford in Cheshire! Fab place to live, great school, Knutsford Academy is excellent, brilliant with arts & photography, languages amongst other things. 6th form is particularly brilliant. The care and nuturing of pupils is really good. Cheshire East is the local council re: admissions, they do take in year admits. Great community feel here and you are so near to everything, 1.5 hours to the Lakes, 2 hrs to London on the train. Lots of after school/hobbies, arts, music, dancing etc etc. M6 10 mins away. For private schools there is Loretto in Altrincham, and Altrincham Grammer school for girls, Alderley Edge school for girls - all good.

Thanks for the info - unfortunately we won't have definite information about the move until ed of January so will miss the good state schools. Do you anything know about the co-ed private schools - Kings, Macclesfield, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport Grammar?

Kings is good, very academic focused, some say Cheadle Hulme is not as good as it used to be, Stockport Gammar no idea sorry!

Kings is lovely, makes an enormous effort with all kind of kids. I think Stockport is fine but on the boring side and Cheadle is fine but looks almost entirely WASP which is odd, given the location...

Kings is lovely. Pm me if you'd like more information (and on the other 2 as well)

What does WASP mean?

Loretto and Alty Girls are both state grammars. You have to be a strict catholic to get into Loretto or at least pretend to be one. Both oversubscribed and got small catchment and virtually unheard of taking students in mid year. Just saying ...

Ps Stockport grammar is nice but admissions are exam based. Also the location is not great. I would go for Alderley.

Again a vote for Kings here! Fantastic school where is academic without being too pushy but also great with sport and music. There are so many opportunities available for the kids that it's difficult not to be happy there. All sorts of children find their niche.

I've heard cheadle is very competitive. Kids know exactly their academic positioning in the year which I guess might suit some children but perhaps not others. Having said that, I know some families who are very happy there.

Stockport also has good reputation.

Its a great area to live with some excellent schools. If you want countryside, a lot of Kings kids come from the Buxton direction.

Good luck with your decision!

White Anglo Saxon Protestant

Oh! Thanks drummer

My son is in reception in a state primary in Bramhall but we are having second thoughts and considering transferring him to Cheadle Hulme School either soon or after the infants. Can anyone give me their opinions on this school? Is anybody schooling their children there? Any info/advice good or bad would be gratefully received!

Bramhall mum - no advice to give, but grew up in Bramhall (and went to school there) so thought I would wave!

I have no advice to give either but the only kids I know who go to Cheadle Hulme are Jewish so suspect the WASP thing (is that even a thing?) may be bollocks.
Interested to hear anyone's experiences with these schools and bramhallmum, if you don't mind saying, was wondering what has put you off the Bramhall state primary?