Schools in York

[Relocator]

Can anyone tell me about state schools in York, primary & secondary. We are probably going to move there in the next couple of years and have two DCs, currently age 7 & 5.

We want to end up in the catchment of a good primary & secondary.

Does anyone know about the schools situation? How easy is it to get into the good ones?

And where are nice places to live in York - are the near the good schools?

Good schools are in the nicer areas, as almost everywhere else! However, my prediction is for some serious school closures in the not too distant future, falling roles are going to be quite a problem, even to the good schools.

City of York LEA is shocking IMO, we have two of the best state secondary schools in the country, two or three good schools, but also some with very low A*-C (in comparison to those mentioned) - yet the LEA trumpets how good it is.

Mind you I have a vested interest as both teacher (in one of the best schools!) and as a parent. I won't be sending my son to the school I work at, he will be going to our local school, by no means even one of the good schools, but his cousin is doing very well there right now and I honestly believe that parental input has a huge impact.

I'll not mention names, but if you are looking at A*-C as an indicator, choose one of the schools with a sixth form.

And if you live down south, don't expect cheap house prices here, especially in good catchments! Most of the villages on the edge of the city are nice, if that helps!

Thanks Carrie - we need to live fairly centrally as DP cannot drive.

We do live in the south but realise that York is pretty pricey so aren't expecting to save any money - just swap like for like.

What are the admissions policies? Are they just local catchment or are they selective? Do most people get the schools they want?

All are local catchment, apart from the church schools (two CofE, one Catholic, secondaries that is!). That said, these aren't the best schools, A*-C wise anyway!

I think most get into their first choice, maybe 20 or so oversubscribed to our school, but we're going up to 9 form entry next year. There are usually good alternatives anyway (one of the church schools is a fierce recruiter to make up numbers).

The bus system isn't too bad, so you might want to consider being a bit further out, there are even trains from a few of the villages!

I teach at one of those church schools and we are actually the best 11-16 in the city for A* - C GCSE. Don't think we are the fierce recruiter though.
V. Important to be in a catchment for good secondary school even if you want to apply to a church school as the criteria for entry to church ones are set out rigidly. Usually oversubscribed and have lots of disappointed parents who then don't want their child to go to the next nearest school.
Think league tables give a fairish reflection for York ( I know they are sometimes bad bad bad things to look at).

I agree with carrieblue that if you can get into an area with a 6th form school it would provide more opportunities for later on. As the local college is not everyones cup of tea!!!

Thanks CB & DD.

Interesting what you say about buses & trains. I think it would be fine for getting to school but as DP is likely to be working in Leeds it might make his journey rather long.

Are the primary schools ok too? Would it be tricky getting into a good primary part way through e.g. DC2 will be 7 or 8 when we move.

Not that familiar with the primary schools as we don't have feeder primaries.

I would say the church ones and the village ones tend to do better and have a better reputation along with the villages. The more inner city then the more varied socio economic groups are evident which I think would be the same in most cities.

Better ones I know off are Copmanthorpe, Archbishop of York's in Bishopthorpe, Poppleton Ousebank,Askham Richard, Robert Wilkinson. There are more but I don't know much about them.

My side is the A64 to Leeds side. Does it have to be York?
Appleton Roebuck and Acaster Malbis are said to be good and en route to Leeds.
Also Tadcaster has 3 good primaries and the house prices are a little lower than York (though not that much)!!
Askham Bryan although no primary school.

I have a DD aged 5 so have friends with children in various schools in villages to West of York so know snippets.

I can give e-mail if you want more info.

If DP is going to work in leeds then have you thought also about Ilkley - great secondary school, expensive houses though, or Harrogate, or even Skipton (long trip in for DP, but v.g grammar schools)

I thought Fulford and Manor were supposed to be the best schools in York. Is this still the case?

I would have said so. With Huntington and All Saints up there near them.

Sorry to jump on the back of this relocator. We are considering something similar but for family reasons. we had originally looked at Harrogate but DH wants a good train link to London so York much better for that.

In an ideal world would be looking at Manor C of E or fulford. DS Twins currently at a C of E primary. I know Manor C of E oversubscribed even if you go to church. Does anyone knnow the attachment area for Fulford? (And also whether Manor really that much better than Fulford.)

Thanks for any thoughts.

x

I think it is fulford and heslington although a phone call to council would clarify. As to manor v fulford I think there is little difference. They are both good schools. Manor is smaller (650) but moving sites next year and growing to approx 950. No sixth form though. Excellent results. Fulford is much larger (over 1000) with a sixth form and a very good school.
Would advise you to get the entrance criteria to both as Fulford follows council admissions and Manor is a separate application process.

Also think carefully as if you were to be unsuccessful getting into either then where you choose to live could be a fair distance to the next nearest secondary esp in the Fulford area. Think it would be Burnholme which is an aquired taste!!!!

Hi Ditdot - thanks so much really really useful. Will give council a call. xx

I agree with Fulford and Heslington. Living in Heslington would be fab for schools and you can walk to the city centre from there.

just noticed this thread, we are moving to york this year got dd in reception,
dh will commute to london once a week so no real problem if a little far from trains ect
Have only been looking at primary schools so far but may have to rethink now after what others have said
We were looking at fulford and heslington and possibly upper poppleton, its a nightmare!!

Hi, I am moving to York from London in August. DD is going to Manor CE. I wonder if anyone would be able to recommend a few good primary schools to try for my younger DD. C of e would be good, but others would be welcome too. Thanks!