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Original poster

Any decent primary schools in Huddersfield/Halifax?

21 replies

bananainpjs · 07/09/2020 15:20

I really want to send my child to a decent primary school. He is at nursery at the moment.

I really want to send him to The Gleddings but its £3200 per term so its so expensive as i work part time and my husband is a contractor and we want another child so its not fair if we can only afford to send one.

I heard good things about Carr Green in Rastrick but i think we are just out of the catchment area on the edge of it.

We recently moved to Fixby in Huddersfield which is quite a lovely area and i thought it would have lovely good schools but it doesn't seem that way and it is making me anxious :(

OP posts:
Original poster
bananainpjs · 07/09/2020 15:21

My aim is to provide him with a good education so he has a good shot at getting into Crossley Heath, however i don't want to pay private education fees as i want us to have a nice life too and not resent this.

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Usernamealreadyexists · 07/09/2020 20:13

As an FYI, my sis sends her two kids to The Gleddings and said that they are now charging for breakfast club and after-school activities since the new owners took over. Fees went up 7%. There was uproar from from the parents. She said she may reassess schooling in the next few months.

Original poster
bananainpjs · 10/09/2021 16:17

Any updates on this situation?

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Hoppinggreen · 10/09/2021 22:27

There are some really good Primary schools in Huddersfield but you won’t get a place unless you live pretty close.
There are 2 Private Primaries here and you already know about Gleddings in Halifax, which is basically just a Grammar hot house. The fees have shot up there recently too as a PP said.
Your local Primary would be Fixby juniors, which has a Good Ofsted but I have heard mixed reports about it.

Original poster
bananainpjs · 10/09/2021 23:23

Thank you Hopping Green.
Could you name the decent primary schools you know of?
I don’t really like the look of Fixby Juniors. Our aim is to get him a best possible start so he has a chance of getting into Crossley.
There is Hipperholme grammar independent school but no one really seems to mention or for some reason?

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Hoppinggreen · 11/09/2021 08:06

Hipperholme is a Private school not a Grammar despite its name.
The Grammars in the area are Crossleys, North Halifax and Heckmondwike.
Both Fixby and Birkby, which are your 2 closest Primaries are Ofsted Good. The closest school to you with the best reputation would be Lindley but living where you do you would have precisely 0 chance of a place. Moorlands is also a very good school but again very over subscribed
To be honest no State Primary will prepare your child for Grammar. We are not a Grammar area and the majority of children here won’t take the 11+ exam, although mine did. Getting into one of the Grammars will depend on natural ability combined with some tutoring from around Y5. There isn’t a lot you can do with a 3 year old to help them get a Grammar place at 11 apart from what you should do whatever your future hopes for your child’s education- read to/with them and encourage any natural curiosity etc.
I appreciate why you might want your child to go to Grammar one day but you really have no idea if it will suit them yet or if they would be capable of getting a place. Some 1200-1500 take the exam for Crossleys and North Halifax for around 300 places. Heckmondwike is separate as it comes under Kirklees rather than Calderdale

Original poster
bananainpjs · 12/09/2021 22:49

Thank you Hopping Green.
It’s annoying about Lindley as we are only 11 minutes by car.
I’ve heard Old Hearth Primary in Elland is a good school.
My friends child goes to Lindley and she said they do prepare you for 11plus exams. Is that because it’s a good school?
Does that mean only the schools in Calder prepare you for the 11plus?

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Original poster
bananainpjs · 12/09/2021 22:51

Did any of your children get into the grammars?

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ZenNudist · 12/09/2021 22:54

I think just focus on getting a good enough primary that you don't pay for then tutor from year 4 or 5. Its cheaper than private secondary. Will only work if your dc is wired that way. Speaking as someone who is not Halifax but ds1 takes his 11+ tomorrow.

Just get a school you like and focus on grammar if dc shows themselves to be naturally academic. You can only force these things so much.

Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2021 07:00

@bananainpjs

Thank you Hopping Green. It’s annoying about Lindley as we are only 11 minutes by car. I’ve heard Old Hearth Primary in Elland is a good school. My friends child goes to Lindley and she said they do prepare you for 11plus exams. Is that because it’s a good school? Does that mean only the schools in Calder prepare you for the 11plus?
No school in the area as far as I know actually help prepare for the 11+. I think your friends must have meant that it’s a good school, as for being 11 minutes away by car from Lindley you would have little chance even if you were 11 minutes away by foot! So many new houses have been built that the catchment is very small and it’s a church school too so church attendance plays a part. If you mean Old Earth school in Elland yes it is a good school but you are very very unlikely to get a place there from Fixby. One of my children did get offered a Grammar place but we decided not to take it and went Private
Original poster
bananainpjs · 13/09/2021 09:45

Oh thanks Hopping Green for your help.
Two girls on our road go to Old Earth hence why I know about it. Otherwise I have never heard about it.
There is Carr Green and Woodhouse which are down the road. There is St Patrick’s too.
We only moved here a year ago and stupidly assumed Fixby being a good area will have good schools. Obviously not and it’s giving me anxiety but as everyone says, if your child is bright, he’ll exceed anywhere.

I heard the Mount isn’t very good even though it’s a private school. Their fees don’t seem to be compared to others.

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Original poster
bananainpjs · 13/09/2021 09:46

*too bad compared

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Original poster
bananainpjs · 13/09/2021 09:46

@ZenNudist

I think just focus on getting a good enough primary that you don't pay for then tutor from year 4 or 5. Its cheaper than private secondary. Will only work if your dc is wired that way. Speaking as someone who is not Halifax but ds1 takes his 11+ tomorrow.

Just get a school you like and focus on grammar if dc shows themselves to be naturally academic. You can only force these things so much.

Thanks Zen, that is true
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Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2021 10:00

St Patrick’s is a Catholic school and while it does take non catholics I dint recommend it if you aren’t
The amount is a very small school and has previously had Financial difficulties, it was set to close a couple of years ago but was rescued by some parents. It’s also very small
HGS is the other Private school which is very good
I think if Fixby is closest school then when you come to do the application put 2 schools down you would really like then Fixby 3rd. If you get Fixby you can look into Tutoring for Grammar from Y5 if you feel at that point it’s the best choice for your child

Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2021 10:01

@ZenNudist

I think just focus on getting a good enough primary that you don't pay for then tutor from year 4 or 5. Its cheaper than private secondary. Will only work if your dc is wired that way. Speaking as someone who is not Halifax but ds1 takes his 11+ tomorrow.

Just get a school you like and focus on grammar if dc shows themselves to be naturally academic. You can only force these things so much.

Hope the 11+ went well for your son ZenNudist
Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2021 10:02

I meant The Mount school not amount!!

Original poster
bananainpjs · 13/09/2021 10:24

May I ask why you wouldn’t recommend St Patrick’s if you are not catholic? It think it’s a Church of England school
I’ve heard Church of England and Roman Catholic are really good schools…they are strict and insti good values…

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Hoppinggreen · 13/09/2021 10:44

Personally I don’t agree with Faith schools at all but specifically with regards to St Pats ( which is Catholic not C of E) there is understandably an emphasis on Catholic teachings and viewpoints on subjects. If you don’t want your child’s education to have a Catholic bias then it’s not the best option. Some of their values are not ones I would want my child to be taught. Also as a non Catholic they may not be able to participate in some events and activities there that are Religion based.
Also as a non Catholic and not in catchment your chances of a place aren’t good

Toots12345 · 29/12/2022 22:51

@Usernamealreadyexists There is no breakfast charge at the Gleddings and it’s fees remain lower than most private schools in the area whereas it’s outputs educationally and pastorally are far superior. It has a waitlist for a reason! Would highly recommend this school.

Aaachooo · 07/09/2025 02:49

Can I ask which school you went with? Were now in same predicament.

Hoppinggreen · 07/09/2025 09:37

This came up in my feed as I commented quite extensively above.
I live in the area and also work as an Education Consultant (mostly Private but I do have some knowledge of the State schools here). I would be happy to offer some free advice if you want to PM me to tell me where you live exactly
Otherwise if you want to mention vague areas or specific schools on here I will do my best to help

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