Cumbria schools help/recommendations near Cleator Moor

[BananaSandwiches3]

I’ve taken a job in cleator moor in Cumbria with an engineering firm. We will be moving from the north east so not a million miles away. Was looking to live semi-rurally at a place called Moresby Parks (although nothing confirmed/location can change as we wouldn’t move until the summer holidays)

I’ve looked at the schools (for DC currently Y8, Y5 and Y3) and the nearest secondary school is inadequate and extremely bad progress 8. The second nearest non religions seems to flip between inadequate and RI and also bad progress 8. The third and fourth are both catholic and oversubscribed so we wouldn’t get an in year place apparently.

Primaries there seems to be plenty of and none of them very full so not a major concern.

Anyone any advice as to where there are better secondary schools and which is commutable to cleator moor and is also semi-rural?

Can I get some more info off you @BananaSandwiches3 to try and help you a bit better?

Are you wanting to stay north of the Moor to maintain access to A66 or up to Carlisle for connections to the north east? Or happy to go south as well (—nightmare— a bit of a pain for connections to M6/A66 if you want anything commutable to the Moor but certainly not impossible).

Also what would be your ideal commute time to work and also for the schools?

Would you consider private at secondary level? There is one private secondary relatively close to the Moor. Or would you like to stick with the state sector?

Hi @Ilovesunsetonthecoast thanks for your reply

Going back over to the north east will be required but not essential. It’ll mainly be to visit family and friends. Willing to consider south of cleator Moor but not to the point where the journey to the north east becomes a nightmare. The easier the better though. Locations for the DC’s schools takes priority.

Unsure on commute times in Cumbria currently. But i would say maybe 30/40 minutes? Is that possible from a semi-rural location? The work commute can be longer at 50 mins maybe if this is needed to get good schools.

Would like to stay in the state sector if at all possible. Private schools fees are a bit too much. Might be manageable for 1 child with some discount but certainly not all 3.

LAncaster Roayl Grammar School takes weekly boarders if that would be an option. The education is free so you just pay for accommodation. It's too far to commute every day but if you don't mind them being away during the week it might work. My 2 DS are there as day pupils and they seem to think the boarders have a great time.

Sorry should mention it's boys only so will depend on your DC

Maybe have a look at Wigton

Cockermouth school always gets good reports and I see lots of coaches leaving daily which tells me lots of children are living away from Cockermouth . I can also say that Cockermouth is a great place to live and not too far from Cleator Moor so would be an easy commute for you also.

Thanks for the extra info. As you’ve posted in education I’ll address everything from an education point of view. This is all based on years of local knowledge, having children in west Cumbrian schools and knowing lots of other parents.
Times to each school are given from the Moor and for driving - not for public transport or school bus which will be either a lot longer or slightly longer. I’ve done it like this incase you want to choose the school then the house. Or you can use it as general idea of how far from the Moor the school is if you still want to live at moresby.

Secondaries

Definitely look at:
Keswick (45 mins) - Fantastic school. Highly recommend this one. There is a school bus from the Moor and one from Whitehaven, one of them will go through moresby. You will probably get a Y8/9 place.
Cockermouth (30 mins) - very good school. Does well academically. You probably won’t get a place but worth asking, places do come up.
West lakes (10 mins) - again, probably won’t get a place but it’s the catchment school for the Moor so you might be lucky.

Because they are close/reasonably ok to get to from Moresby:
St Benedicts RC (5 mins)
Netherhall (30 mins)
Workington Academy (20 mins)

Avoid like the plague:
Whitehaven school (5 mins)
St Joseph’s RC (20 mins)
Beacon hill (40 mins)

If you want to be a bit further out then you could look at.

Nelson Tomlinson (50 mins north) - you won’t get a place. You have to be living in wigton. Know someone who lives in one of the villages close by just outside the town and their DS still didn’t get a place.
Millom (50 mins south)

Primaries (around Moresby)

Look at
Moresby primary - very good little school
Frizington primary - also good
St James CE Juniors, Whitehaven
Lowca primary is meant to be doing well these days
St Patrick’s RC, cleator Moor

Avoid (in general not just for moresby)
Hensingham primary, Whitehaven
Westfield primary, Workington
St Bridget’s CE, Parton - I’ve not heard good things recently

If you would like any further information about any of the schools just let me know. Also happy to name some villages near to any of the schools you might be interested in.

As for commutability of West Cumbria. Anything south of millom, east of Keswick and north of maybe wigton is going to start getting a bit impossible on a daily basis. It is possible to commute from Carlisle daily using the train or from barrow (also train). But you still have to get from Whitehaven train station to the Moor. Public transport is not reliable and pretty much non existent.

Thanks everyone.

@Mumski45, thanks for the suggestion but boarding isn’t really an option. Firstly cost, and secondly, it doesn’t feel right to send your DC away to school, I know it works for some but I just think 12/13 is too young. Might feel a bit different when/(if) they are going into 6th form.

A couple of mentions for cockermouth and wigton (nelson Thomlinson). I’d like to explore cockermouth school more but if as a PP has suggested there is no way we will get a place then wigton with a long commute wouldn’t be worth it if the DC have to go else where as we wouldn’t want to live in the town.

@Ilovesunsetonthecoast. Wow! Fantastic. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put into helping.
Do you mind me asking where abouts you live (town/village name obviously - not the street haha).
Do you mind me asking which school(s) your DC go to? And why you chose them?
Can I take you up on the offer of asking for a bit more insight to Keswick, Cockermouth, West Lakes, St Benedicts and (maybe?) Netherhall? From a living in Moresby (or close by?) point of view if possible?
Also, might be asking a bit much of your generosity now, but near those schools are you able to make some nice villages/semi-rural areas to live in? I’m not sure we would want to live in Keswick - too busy/touristy.
Can I ask what is wrong with Whitehaven (just as it would be our closest school if we stuck with Moresby) and St Joseph’s. St Joseph’s seems to have good OFSTED and progress 8?

You can answer as much or as little as you would like. I appreciate I have asked a lot. But thanks again for the information you have given about schools

Just to correct myself. Like to explore cockermouth more.
No point in exploring wigton/nelson thomlinson if we can’t get a place and DC go elsewhere. Wouldn’t make the commute worth it.

Lots of people who work at Sellafield / Westlakes Science park live in Cockermouth so you would be in good company.

Yes, of course you can ask.
We live in Whitehaven, in fact about a couple of miles from moresby and a couple from the Moor.

DC1 is at Keswick. They loved the school when they went and just seemed really comfortable with the place compared to others. As parents we loved the atmosphere of the school and the opportunities it gives the kids.
DC2 is at West Lakes. Originally had a place at Keswick but West Lakes suited them better because they did not want the travelling every day and when we visited they were more comfortable in the West Lakes environment and the science heavyness of the school suits his interests. We got a place off the waiting list over the summer holidays.
DC3 started in St James Infants but is now at moresby primary and will be going to Keswick in September
DC4 is at moresby primary because DC3 was there and it removes the Y3 transition.

Keswick school
OFSTED Outstanding. And it is an Outstanding school. Fantastic results. Fantastic teachers. Very caring school. Focussed on the child and not the results. Lots of outdoors encouraged such as John muir award and DofE. Lots of other extra curricular also encouraged that isn’t outdoors such as a codeing club and book writing club. Good range of GCSE subjects. They have a school nurse on site which was a big bonus for us when choosing for DC3. They also have a very low staff turnover and kids are happy and well behaved.
You would probably get a place. They usually have around 2-5 places left in the year group but I’d get in quickly as they seem to fill in year 9.
Kids do commute from Workington/Whitehaven/cleator Moor/maryport everyday.
I agree, I wouldn’t suggest living in Keswick itself although it’s a lovely town but there are villages such as bassenthwaite and Thornthwaite.

Cockermouth
OFSTED Good. Fantastic results. Good teaching. Can seem a bit results driven but still looks after the less academic ones. Good range of GCSE subjects. The kids seem happy and well behaved. Never seen any trouble when I’ve been walking around cockermouth. Know it is possible to get places from further away as kids do travel from Workington/whitehaven/maryport.
As for living around here, cockermouth itself, although a Town, is a nice place. Outlying villages near here are lorton, papcastle, graysouthern.

West lakes.
OFSTED Outstanding. Oversubscribed though. Last year it’s cut off was in the catchment. Has excellent results. Lots of STEM things going on and science heavy school but on the plus side all the science teachers are very well qualified in their science area. Very encouraging of the kids. It is the catchment school for the Moor. Lot of children on the Moor and Whitehaven area go here. Worth asking if they will have places. I know I would be. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
You’ve already identified moresby and cleator Moor but there is also Moor row, cleator and bigrigg.

St Benedict’s
OFSTED Good. Never heard a bad thing about it, other than it’s got some strange one way system, but that’s completely irrelevant. Good results, good teachers, kids happy, good progress 8 and isn’t ultra-catholic but has links to churches.
I know parents who have DC here and they seem happy with the school. It never seems to be anyone’s 1st choice but usually a 2nd/3rd choice but no one has every complained about being given it. I think mainly this is because there are a couple of outstanding schools and schools with better progress 8 around. I wouldn’t complain if any of my DC had wanted to go here. Unsure whether you would get a place. Haven’t heard anyone getting an in year one.

Netherhall
OFSTED Good. This ones had a rough past and a truly mixed comprehensive intake but has really improved over the last 5 years under new management. Results getting a lot better and progress 8 now average. Kids behave well and teachers really trying to help them. Recently I’ve only heard good things. A friend was allocated this school (after trying to avoid it) when she didn’t get any of her preferences. She has totally changed her mind about the place and thinks it’s a blessing in disguise. A cousin of mine has sent her DC to netherhall and they are fantastic. Her youngest has dyslexia and the school have been really supportive and targeted the help where it’s needed and her youngest is doing very well here. It’s one I did consider for DC3 and will consider for my youngest child. You would get a place from the Moor but also from living nearby.
As for living near here there is flimby and dearham (also good for cockermouth).

Whitehaven School
OFSTED inadequate. Not brilliant. It’s had a lot of problems. And that’s not because it’s catchment. It’s catchment has some very wealthy and some very poor people. The problems seem to be from management of the school and poor expectations of the children. It’s getting a new building at long last (been needed since I was at school which was a long time ago). If you are supportive and your DC are willing to put the effort in and know what they want out of school they will do alright, I have known this happen. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother with it. This would be my last resort school. I haven’t heard a lot of good things but recently they have a new academy sponsor so things might be on the up at some point? You would get a place from living anywhere.

St Joseph’s
OFSTED Good. I’ve heard good and bad about this school. I know some parents with children who have got their heads down and done ok and other parents who have pulled their children out because of bullying. Unfortunately I’ve heard more of the latter usually the non catholic children being bullied. I’ve heard horror stories of the impact this has had on a couple of children and know the full background of one of them and my advice is to stay away from it because school management don’t care/won’t do anything about it. If they are like that for bullying what lease is going on? It’s starting to be a place non-catholic people avoid for this reason. It also seems to be ultra-catholic (which you might want if that’s what you want in the school). I wouldn’t send my children there. You would get a place from living anywhere if you were catholic.

Other little villages are
Lowca (good for any of the schools mentioned)
Parton
Frizington (West Lakes catchment by good for Keswick/cockermouth)

Hope this helps you make your decisions.

Hello @Ilovesunsetonthecoast. I appreciate its been about a month. I wasn’t ignoring your information, in fact it was very useful. Thank you so much. We have used it to make a few decisions.

I’ve accepted the job and will be starting in September once I’ve worked my notice.

Regarding schools, your information was invaluable. We investigated a few schools. Keswick, St Benedicts, Netherhall and Whitehaven (but not too keen on Whitehaven) can offer us a Y9 place for September but we have to apply officially at some point and there’s no guarantee the place will still be available. The others said no chance and there were some we didn’t bother with.

Can I ask your honest opinion on which of these you would choose? And why?
We are still thinking of moving to moresby. We have found a nice house at a good price. Further afield towards Keswick is just too expensive and currently can’t find anything suitable in the little villages towards netherhall school in the price range.

Can I ask why you decided to move your DC3 and 4 to moresby primary? Is there an issue with St James’? Asking because the current Y3/4 class at moresby is full but there is still a chance of a place next academic year because the Y2 numbers are lower (or something like that). But we would like both DC2 and DC3 in the same school if possible. St James’ can offer places for both DC as can frizington.

Seriously, thank you so much for your help so far. It’s really really appreciated.

Despite its problems, the new head at Whitehaven is very good and the trust that took it over a few years ago are also very very good. Not the usual corporate/huge trust but very much focused on education in Cumbria.

Not sure I’d send my kids there (yet) but it will be in the up I reckon.

Congratulations on the new job @BananaSandwiches3!

Primary schools
There is nothing wrong with St James infants or Juniors. Both did really well by DC1 and DC2 and would probably been fine for DC4 as well. I never had any complaints with the schools. They are lovely schools. DC3 has some hearing difficulties and was struggling with 30 kids in a class. Moresby has smaller class sizes (although it can have up to 30, it can’t be avoided if people want the places). Anyways, the smaller class sizes were needed and moresby could offer this. DC4 followed DC3 purely out of making my life easy with the school run and with the added benefit of removing the Y3 transition to junior school. I don’t know a lot about frizington, but you can’t go wrong with any of the primary schools that can offer you places. Choose the one you like best.

Secondary schools
Personally I would choose Keswick. I just think it’s an amazing school. So many opportunities offered both inside and outside of the classroom. It’s all about the child, not the results, they encourage every child to do their best and the atmosphere and feeling around the school is just something that is amazing. DC1 loves it there. It’s done fantastically for DC1 and for DC3 it’s going to be perfect they have a nurse on site. Plus they were really accommodating when listening to the needs of DC3 and we have had lots of conversations on how to make things work for DC3. I think I’m trying to say they are a very supportive and cooperative school. However, the school bus. This will cost, you have to factor in the fees for the school bus, the fact that the school bus does not wait for kids who want to do after school activities and it will be your responsibility to pick them up from school. DC1 gets the stagecoach if they have after school activities and I combine a shopping trip to Workington or cockermouth to pick them up. However, lots of other children in the area do attend Keswick so there are lots of friends locally.

Netherhall is a good school, I’ve heard lots of positive things. It is one I considered for DC3 as mentioned earlier but transport from the Whitehaven area is going to be appalling if you choose it. You are going to be a taxi driver unless you want to send your DC on a 90 minute journey to school on the bus and the same coming home. This put me off. Plus, no one in the Whitehaven area, that I know of, goes to netherhall so there would be no local friends.

St Benedicts is ok. Good results nice atmosphere and nice new building. If you are welcoming to the religious side of the school then it’s a good school to be at. Children from all the primaries you have mentioned will go here so there’s continuity (although this is the same for Keswick and Whitehaven). Compulsory RE GCSE but it’s a solid subject and valuable to 6th forms/universities/colleges. Everyone I know with DC there like it and no one complains. It’s local to you, your DC can walk from moresby quite easily. Think about admissions criteria for younger DC as I’d you are not catholic they might not get a place. (I can’t remember what their admissions criteria is but this is worth considering).

Whitehaven has the advantage of being local. I would not send my children here. As a PP said, It’s got new management so potentially improving. But, for your DC that’s already in secondary, I wouldn’t chance it, although that’s just my personal opinion. It could be an option for your youngest depending on what happens in the next few years.

Have you been able to go and view the schools for yourself? I know there’s not much left of the term but if you can get to any of them during the day if might help you make your mind up on gut instinct. Also, get in there quick with the application form if you want Keswick. The places at Keswick will go very quickly for Y9. It seems to be a common year for kids to start who didn’t go in Y7 for some reason. I know with DC1, the places just seemed to fill when they entered Y9.