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Original poster

Private schools in the North East

70 replies

Nyorks · 06/07/2021 16:19

Hi, I'm just after any feedback on Teesside High, Yarm School or Cundall Manor if anyone can help?
Have tours booked of each but hoping to hear from those with experience at the schools.
It would be for both pre-prep through to secondary, DS and DD Smile Thank you

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Foxhasbigsocks · 08/07/2021 20:19

@Nyorks my advice would be tread with care in that case. I picked a school for my dd on the basis that the kids all seemed lovely and well behaved and everything looked great. Sadly Dd never fitted in there.

We’ve moved her to a private (different area as we’ve moved) where there are lots of similar quirky kids and she’s thriving. Very strong friendships and no bullying.

Original poster
Nyorks · 08/07/2021 20:22

@babynameneeded yes I had those same concerns.
My husband does see the appearance of the school as a big factor too (I'm not sure why... I think he just expects a private school to look a certain way).

I'm looking forward to seeing Yarm. I have the feeling the facilities and grounds will be impressive, but that the class sizes and the inclusively might not be what we are looking for. I'm not too concerned about it being selective, as long as the assessments are done the right way (no obvious pressure on the kids). I'm really hoping we get a good feel for the place though. I may ask for a private tour, rather than the open day alone. Private tours seem to be much more personal and mean you can ask all the 1000s of questions you have haha

I tried to book onto a tour for Cundall Manor but they wouldn't have us because we are planning on starting next year, rather than this September. I asked to be added to the next open day but was told they would call back in September Confused
It's considerably higher fees than THS and Yarm, but very small and friendly with great outdoor space and extra curricular.

That was another thing. THS couldn't tell us what extra curricular activities and clubs they had, just what they had done for a period of time years ago as an example. I'd love to see a list of what EC options they usually run at. That was one of only a couple of minor things we weren't sure of.

Have you looked at any others at all?

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babynameneeded · 09/07/2021 09:05

We are only considering TSH, Yarm and Red House simply because they're all a maximum of 15 mins away from home. THS is practically visible from our house. I considered Bow in Durham but think I'll just end up getting frustrated if I have to do a longer than necessary school run.

TSH offer lots of extra curricular clubs. The lady must've spent a good 15 mins listing them to me! But it was frustrating they didn't offer a prospectus, whereas Red House posted one out the next day so it could answer any questions I had.

All of my tours have been 1-2-1. I much prefer it like that as I feel it doesn't give the opportunity for the school to put on a false display + like you said, you can ask many more questions.

Which area are you in and will your DC be going into nursery/reception/year 1?

babynameneeded · 09/07/2021 09:06

Also, very bizarre Cundall wouldn't book you in. Both TSH and Red House were aware I wouldn't be looking for a place until Sept 2022, even possibly September 2023, and they were more than happy to show me around

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 09:50

@babynameneeded Cundall said they were prioritising 2021 entries and were very busy. I was hoping to see all around the same time so it ass easier to compare.

THS sent us a prospectus out the day after I contacted them, so strange you didn't get one.

We are pretty much 20 minutes from THS, 15 mins from Yarm and about 20 from Cundall so they are all roughly the same. We have a drive of at least 10 mins to our local primaries too so there isn't much in it.

Currently DD is 2 and in nursery and DS is 6 and in Y1. It is likely they will start in reception and year 3 in 2022, but there is a small chance we might move them this year.

What years are you looking at?

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Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 10:20

In case helpful op from seeing the recent moves into our private, if finances and places allow I would say moving in year 2 is a lot easier - that’s obviously the last year of KS1 and there alms a significant step in independence and work expected in y3, so would I think be quite a bit easier to move in y2.

My dd started in reception which worked ok. That meant dd2 started in nursery the year later and I have to say her settling in was so much smoother than dd1. Where these schools have nurseries they don’t always have a very high proportion of joiners in reception so it can be quite a lot easier on them to start in nursery and just go through to reception with the friends they’ve already made.

Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 10:21

Comes not alms Grin

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 10:47

@Foxhasbigsocks that's really interesting thank you. It's a question I have asked the schools and year 3 was the year they advised they get the most joiners aside from nursery. This was for TSH and Yarm. I haven't had chance to ask Cundall yet.

There did seem to be a big difference between y2 and y3 yesterday at TSH. I don't think DS would struggle keeping up work wise, but I think from an emotional/social point of view he would be better moving sooner rather than later.

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Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 10:55

I think y3 is a very common entry point because so many do the “state to eight” rule. It’s the same here! But I agree - socially and emotionally better to move sooner

Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 10:56

In case interesting - this is on a london focused site:

nappyvalleynet.com/schools-guide-2018/state-until-eight/

Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 11:01

Interesting that TSH like our school doesn’t get many new reception joiners. It was only only 2 in both my dds years. IME it’s actually harder to settle into reception at a prep where all the other dc have been together since age 3 than it would be at a state primary where say a third of the class would be new joiners

Cowbells · 09/07/2021 11:09

@Foxhasbigsocks

My own take is that the most important thing is to look at whether the kids look like your kids would gel with them
That is such a good comment. I never reaIised it but that probably was, sibconsciously, the reason we chose DC's school in the end. Three schools, all excellent on paper but one was full of their type of person.
Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 11:23

@Cowbells I learned this the hard way!! Totally stuffed up the choice with dd1 - picking the kind of place I wanted her to fit for the kind of kid I sort of hoped she was. Rather than looking at HER

Now we have it right and it isn’t the shiniest with the best facilities but she is SO happy at our prep

babynameneeded · 09/07/2021 12:20

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@Cowbells I learned this the hard way!! Totally stuffed up the choice with dd1 - picking the kind of place I wanted her to fit for the kind of kid I sort of hoped she was. Rather than looking at HER

Now we have it right and it isn’t the shiniest with the best facilities but she is SO happy at our prep[/quote]
I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Red House is the school I expected to like the most, alongside Yarm which 'replicate' the visual look of the school I went to.

However, the more I think about it, the more I'm settled on TSH because I think despite the exterior not looking the best, that is where my child would be happiest, and ultimately that's all that matters

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 13:17

@babynameneeded @Foxhasbigsocks I totally agree.

I'm not bothered about how a school looks (within reason- some schools are in quite a state of disrepair!) but I just so want him to be happy. My daughter too of course but she is such a different character so far.

I'm really excited to see the other schools and don't really want to wait until September! Haha

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babynameneeded · 09/07/2021 13:39

Hopefully you find one that suits you all perfectly!

My son will be 3 at the start of this next academic year so we might be at the school gates together one year

Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 15:13

@Nyorks can you call them back and say you are now looking for September? They might let you look sooner!

gillysSong · 09/07/2021 15:16

Ampleforth, or is that North West?

Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 16:04

It’s north but close to Helmsley so would be rather too far for op and issues there recently according to Ofsted? Not sure if resolved.

Beautiful grounds though

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 16:59

@Foxhasbigsocks yes that is an option. I think they broke up for summer today though!

@babynameneeded perhaps we will!

@gillysSong Ampleforth is way out for us unfortunately. I had considered it but the reports weren't great and the fees steep considering. I read that they are in danger of closing recently. So unfortunately that one was out for us.

We have booked another tour of THS ahead of their open day. I'm hoping to book a tour for Yarm too. Will try Cundall again also

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Foxhasbigsocks · 09/07/2021 17:16

@Nyorks our prep is showing people round in the holidays.

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 17:26

@Foxhasbigsocks that would be really useful! I have zero annual leave left thanks to covid so its a real struggle to take time to do the tours. I already have some time off over the holidays so it would be so helpful

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babynameneeded · 09/07/2021 17:28

Yarm is showing me around when they're 'shut' so it's definitely allowed

Original poster
Nyorks · 09/07/2021 21:50

@babynameneeded I'm going to drop them an email now and see if they can fit us in Smile

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Original poster
Nyorks · 13/07/2021 11:31

@babynameneeded I'd be interested to head how you find Yarm after your tour. We are now booked on for a tour on the 27th July and will still be attending the open day in September for both Yarm and TSH

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