Schools in Garforth/Leeds - any experience/advice please?

[emy72]

Hi
we don't live in Garforth but it's the nearest place to us with decent schools. We are looking into primary and then secondary for our 3 children...
We looked at Ninelands & East Garforth and they both have Outstanding reports but what are they really like? It's very hard to tell by just visiting and because we are not local we don't know any parents to ask.
Any advice would be so greatly received!
We are so desperate to find a decent school we have even considered private (Grammar School at Leeds) - but with 3 children it would be an immense sacrifice and possibly not even be feasible long term...
Thanks again!
Emy

Garforth college - secondary, is a good state school, I know several people with children there who are happy with it. I think ninelands has a slightly better rep than east garforth, but the kids I know at Garforth college all came from surrounding villages so no help there i'm afraid.
GSAL is fab, and if your income is not too high there are bursaries and full scholarships from 11+

Don't know anything about the local primary schools, but if you do look at any prep schools check out Moorlands Prep.

Also if you do go private make sure you get some reduction for sending 3 children!

Plus it's a huge trek from Garforth to Alwoodley if you wanted to put them in the Grammar school

I am very happy with Ninelands - DS is in Reception. It is large for a primary school, but split into smaller units (Foundation/KS1 building and KS2 building). The head teacher is lovely and motherly, but takes no nonsense. The reception teachers are excellent. The nursery is also very good, and completely play based (which is why DS is there and not at Green Lane, which is equidistant)
East Garforth is also supposed to be good, but I know less about it. The 'comp' has an excellent reputation, and I have no qualms about sending DS there when the time comes. We are very lucky really.

All the Garforth schools have just got Foundation Trust status. The principle change seems to be that students at the 7 Garforth primary schools will be higher on the admissions list for Garforth Community College.

My niece goes to Strawberry Fields (opposite the college) and it is very good by all accounts. Her mum is a teacher at another school, but wanted her there as it has a good record.

the college is one of the best schoools in Yorkshire at the moment. My DH went there, and although I'm sure it's changed a lot since then (he is very old!), it is consistently good in the league tables. In fact I'm trying to convince him to move back to Garforth so our DCs can go there. We live in Leeds at the mo.

Aaaagh! Principal.
I'm sure the schools (or at least the teachers) are principled however
(wanders of muttering 'I must check my posts better')

thanks for your replies, it was amazing to have people actually knowing the schools, it's fab! Dunk, I had a good impression of Ninelands when I went round, like you say the headteacher seemed approachable but firm and keen to do things. The nursery seemed very large & airy and full of interesting toys too! She has a place for Sep to go to the nursery, so we might actually get a good feel for the school then?
Thanks again for all your advice - any more opinions/comments, still welcome! x

bump x