Secondary schools advice - Leeds

[Floralbiscuit]

Hi,

I'm looking for general secondary school advice but especially experience in Leeds.

My child lives 50/50 between me and his dad.

I live in the catchment area for Ralph Thoresby secondary school in Leeds. It doesn't perform well in league tables and I'm not sure dc would do well there. Dc can't easily get to the dad's from there. I don't live in the catchment for Horsforth secondary but all of dc's current classmates will go there and it's generally regarded as a good, nice school.

DC's dad moved to Headingley with his catchment both Carr Manor school (performs really well and has a lovely atmosphere) and City Academy (other end of the spectrum). He's only just on the very very cusp of Carr Manor school and so it may be that dc won't get in there especially since the school just had ravingly brilliant Ofsted reports.

I cannot rent out my house - I either have to sell it or stay put.
I'm stuck as to whether I should sell and move to one of the catchments for the 'good schools'. It would be a huge financial burden and mean downsizing to somewhere smaller. But I'm concerned my gentle, sensitive dc might struggle in one of the other schools.

Has anyone been in this situation and does anyone have any advice? And does anyone have any experience of any of the schools mentioned?

Thank you

I only know about Carr Manor as my neighbours son moved there from Roundhay and loves it. I would just say that an outstanding ofsted may not matter a jot as to whether your son feels comfortable in that school. We are all in the catchment for Roundhay here yet two of my neighbours chose different schools where competition wasn’t so strong and their kids could get breathing space.

Weirdly I was just looking at Carr Manor admissions criteria, wanted to see if the attached primary school was a feeder which is what I've been told by current parents but it didn't seem to state that. I do think they'll grow in popularity with the recent ofsted - when will your DC be going to secondary?

In 2024 Horsforth took out of catchment, but only 1 mile - would you be within that?

Any older step siblings on dad's side?

Carr Manor is a through-school so it does automatically take the primary kids through to secondary. I'd apply for the primary now but it's oversubscribed too. DC will start in 2026 but my house will be a bit lengthy to sell for various reasons so I'm thinking about this all now.

Someone on my estate applied for Horsforth and didn't get in. I'm not quite close enough.

No step siblings on dad's side.

Thanks