Yorkshire

[repatexpat]

Hi I'm looking for recommendations of great schools in Yorkshire and where you'd recommend living?

Depends what age and what you are looking for, state or private? Girls or boys? Do you like built up town or rural country? What's your budget?

Yorks is a very big place.
Can you narrow down what or where you are after a bit more?
We are technically north Yorks, but very, very close to the northern boundary. Outstanding schools, affordable houses. We are happy - but if you want art galaxies and the latest fashions it's probably not for you!

Yorkshire is MASSIVE.

Do you want to narrow it down at all?

As PP have said- Yorkshire is quite large. Any preferences for which part?

Do you know anything about Yorkshire and have you ever been?

What are you imagining?

All these places are in Yorkshire - what did you have in mind?

Is primary or secondary your focus?

Grammar system or not?

Wow!

Yes I've been to Yorkshire, but have lived abroad for 10 years.

Areas which we loved visiting, but holiday and living are different things.

Runswick Bay, Barnard Castle, Stokesley, Saltbutn, Gainford, Hutton Magna, Piercebridge, Helmsley, Richmond...

Why we are looking at Yorkshire -

Our main drive is change of environment and lifestyle. Unless things are changing all over the country and things are getting worse, as we have been away for years.

My children (boys) 10, 12 are currently at Prep school in Surrey - oldest has interviews at Winchester, offers from RGS Guildford - based on that; we looked at Yarm and Ripon Grammar; and Queen of Eth..

Both are academic and very sporty (cricket, rugby, football, tennis, athletics...)

We are looking to be near a town with all the facilities - including very good schools - but to live on a small holding or at least with a few acres.

My concern is now anywhere rural or semi rural there may be housing on green belt sites.. so bear AONB would be ideal.

As a family, we can travel to Durham and Newcastle for museums and theatres.

I hope that helps?!

Focus on the schools for your dc, school bus routes, sports clubs etc. I live near Guildford and my sister lives in the NE and has 1 dc at Barnard Caste and 1 dc at Yarm (there is only 1 place where you can live and send dc to both these schools on the school bus network). She spends her whole term time focused on the schools bus timetable, school run for late pick ups, going to watch school matches and on Saturdays driving miles for school matches. Academically 1 of the schools above is average and the other parents are not motivated and engaged in the same way that they are at the other school. You really need to think this through and spend a lot of time focusing on the secondary schools and not your housing.

Sounds like Yorkshire to you is just North Yorkshire if you imagine going to Newcastle to go to a museum.

Why don’t you look at Leeds or York- there are some nice places between the two.

St Peters York

I have DD at Barnard Castle school. Academically it isn't as strong as Yarm/RGS etc but pastorally it is fantastic (or has been for DD anyway).
Sounds like you mean North Yorks/County Durham rather than South/East/West Yorks.
Barney is decent place to live but estates are spreading its boundary. The villages around Barney could be a good bet, although very expensive eg Barningham and all the ones off the A66/A67.
Avoid Ethelburg's for obvious reasons

I would agree with find your school first . Lots of good independent schools, all very different. Our 2 dc's, both academic and sporty, are at Cundall Manor which is a brilliant school just off the A1 between Ripon and Thirsk they really enjoy school, have a great bunch of friends and we have made friends in the parent community. It's a lot smaller than some of the others but means they get involved in everything and no Saturday school which is a real relief as they both have sports teams outside school too. I really would look around a few and get a feel for the places as they are all very different and it just depends what suits.

Thank you! Agree with you all - I'll focus on the schools first!

@redrobin75 I assume it’s Barnard Castle that has the not so engaged parents and average academics?

I think this differs from year to year. I can only speak from our experience but most parents in DDs year group are extremely engaged and motivated.
As with every school there are different experiences. I would agree with the academics being average Vs above average for the likes of Durham Girls etc but Barney are strong on all round achievements and very, very strong on sports (alumni include England cricket a rugby players).
The NE has a strong independent sector so there is a school to suit each child.

Ermysted's boys' grammar in Skipton is brilliant. It's a non-fee paying school, but there's an entrance exam.
I went to the girls' school in the same town.
Skipton (and surrounding rural areas) is a great places to live.
Excellent rail connections to Leeds which is a great thriving cosmopolitan city these days! (not so much so when I was living near there!)
Also not too far from Manchester.

I was going to say Harrogate, until you mentioned a smallholding. Excellent state schools, and a couple of private schools.

Otherwise, Cundall Manor is not a bad shout - look at villages around Easingwold (which has a popular state primary), the nearest town being Boroughbridge. From round there, you can also easily reach York for St Peters (which also has associated preps) and Boothams.

Avoid Ethelburgas like the plague regardless of whatever sort of kid you have, otherwise north Yorks, southern Durham have a great selection of independent schools to suit any kid.
if your budget is healthy, look for around York and send them to St Peters as day boys, outstanding sport, or move further across and send them to GSAL, also super sporting opportunities. Both are academic schools, but not in the same manner as a south east selective grammar. You will find plenty of great country houses with small acreages, but do expect to pay accordingly.

Ripon and Skipton both have selective grammar schools.

Of the two, Ripon easier for Durham, Newcastle and York. First two, A1 drive.

You would need to live in the catchment ( once test secured) or as close as, to gain a place.

You would be able to buy with land near to both. (cost dependent of course).

Getting close to a short list - thank you!

I’d go and have a look at Ampleforth College if you like North Yorkshire. Fabulous place.

Add Pocklington School too….The Yorkshire Wolds are beautiful and don’t get the tourist crowds that North Yorkshire does. Great place to live and easy travelling distance from York for shops/theatre/restaurants.

Avoid pocklington if you have bright kids , lots of farming families so good for exposure to that aspect

So pleased it has improved to safeguard pupils which is evidenced in the 2023 inspection
. The OFSTED inadequate judgement for safeguarding back in 2021 is the worst report I've ever read. Quite shocking.

Have you considered Ilkely?