Moving to Manchester - can you help me with advice on schools in Trafford?

[Ohforfoxsake]

Following on from my original thread on where to live, we are on the market and relocating within the next 6 months. We've seen some great houses in Sale, Altrincham and Hale.

Education is really the key to moving to this area. The children are of Primary age, but we are thinking about secondary too.

There's so many schools, many of which look good on paper and OFSTED, but I'd really appreciate your honest opinions, good and bad.

We're relocating from London so its really hard to get up to do viewings, let alone school visits during the week, so your advice would really count.

Thank you, in advance.

I name changed because I don't want to be recognised, but the following is all true!

About Oldfield Brow - yes, it is a friendly place.

Oldfield Brow Primary School - the headteacher (if it's still the one that was there 3 years ago) is FANTASTIC. He is the reason why this school is a good place for the kids. We had to move from Oldfield Brow, and the kids are now happy in their new school. But they still say that they miss the old headteacher, and they still sing the songs that he taught them.

He knew every child, and could tell you the personality of each kid. He also helped parents with their CVs etc. Great person.

I feel that my kids' current school is better suited to them, but we do miss the old HT so much. (BTW we didn't move because of the school, we moved country because of work.)

Oh, another great point was the nursery at Oldfield Brow. Again: great nursery teacher who cared a lot about the kids, and a very nice little outside area for the kids to play in.

And the Toddler group on Taylor Road kept me sane when the kids were little. I don't know if it's still there though.

Hmm. Oldfield Brow is "the wrong side of town" though. What about Stamford Park or the Bollin?

sezaroo - would be interested in your opinion as just starting all my research now!
I want to move into the catchment area of good primary/ secondary. I'm in Didsbury now and looking at Trafford as excellent secondary education (with VIth form) comes free! My boys are 1 & 2 :)
My question is will your house also come under catchment for one of the good grammars? (Alty/ Sale/ Ambrose/ Stretford). But also ... what are the other schools like if the boys dont pass their entrance exams (eek!).
I am having trouble finding catchment maps for the grammars as they seem to be postcode/ street based, and maps arent provided on the LEA website.
We'll be looking about the £250-300k mark.
Many thanks!

Hi Jenbobs2

Yes I'm pretty sure that Oldfield Brown comes under the Alty Grammar catchment as from memory that is all WA14 and WA15 postcodes - and the area all comes under WA14.

As 'theweekendisnear' pointed out, the head teacher at Oldfield Brow is very very good. This clearly filters through to the teachers and to the students. I went to look at a few of the schools including The Bollin and Stamford Park, and although they were really nice I just felt that Oldfield Brow had the edge. If they can get those results with kids from a mix of economic backgrounds compared to others where the majority are from privileged backgrounds (more likely to have private tutors etc) then they must be doing something right.

I've just had a quick look on rightmove, and a search for 'houses' in 'Oldfield Brow' brought up 61 results, 16 of which are £300k or under. Most in the £200-£300k category tend to go really quickly, as we wanted to move on to St Marks Avenue but the two on there at £219 and £239k already have sales agreed. I have been told that there is a nice 4 bed semi on St Marks due to come on the market in the coming weeks priced at £320k from a 'motivated seller', so you could possibly get that for £300k. Unfortunately our budget wont stretch that far so I'll let you have it! hehe. Good luck with your search and hope that this helps! ;-)

I'm revisiting this thread as since originally starting it we've moved, are in schools and have just had Ds's grammar results.

Having done all the open days we are spoilt for choice with grammar and high schools, all of which have so much to offer.

Hi got a son Y9 AGSB let me know if any q's ? I know a lot of peeps at other schools too- we are out of area.

Hi I am a 40 something mum of three whose children attended local primary and secondary schools in the Altrincham area. I have lived in Timperley all my life so i know the Sale/Altrincham/Timperley/Hale/Bowdon area like the back of my hand! I went to Altrincham Grammar and so did one of my children, one went to Wellington and the other is at a local independant. If anyone needs any advice about moving into the area - whether it's advice on 'parts of town best avoided', catchment areas or '11 plus exams', I'll do my best to help!

Re Oldfield Brow - it's lovely I agree, but if your children don't pass the entrance exams for the Grammar Schools the Secondary School they would be in catchment for is Altrincham College of Arts which is quite a distance and doesn't have as good a reputation locally as Wellington.

Hi notangelinajolie,

I am really in need of advise as I am thinking of moving to Altrincham girls catchment. would you be able to advise me or let me know your contact details so that I can reach out to you.

Jeanie, I'm from Urmston and it whiffs more in Davyhulme in the Summer, Flixton/Urmston are lovely and we live a few miles away from there in Partington. Did you move there in the end?

I've just noticed it was 3 yes ago you posted

to cornsilkcremeeggspotter
My ds has SEN. We are movng to timperley are. Do you suggest any school where we shouldn't go? Any suggestion ?

can anyone help? 11 yr old to travel from altrincham to urmston grammar. No school buses that I can see.Please mums, does anybody has any suggestions?

Hi ladies, Just wondering if any of you have any updates to this advice? We're also planning to move from London this summer, have a 4yr old currently in reception and a little one not yet at school age. Where did you end up moving to ohforfoxsake? How did your kids manage?We'd also have about 400 to spend and main priority is good schools. Any help very much welcome as i'm feeling around in the dark!x

Niki, feel free to PM me if you need help still. OFFS.

One update is that North Cestrian is becoming a 'free' school (in both meanings of the word) from 2016, so the kids living in Oldfield Brow who don't get into one of the grammars will have another option over ACA (which is actually a really nice school, to be fair!).

I wonder what the entrance criteria will be for North Cestrian, does anyone know? I know it is non-denom so it could just be catchment based. Could this mean less people apply for places at the Altrincham grammars?

Hi there. I'm moving to Altrincham this summer and i've got 4 children in school. Currently year 2, year 4 and year6. I'm very interestead at Altrincham grammer school for girls and my daughter took the test, but as i'm not in the catchment area at the minute they won't consider her for year 7 so i'm thinking to mive there this summer and try again for year 8. We found a property in Ellesmere road between the midical centre and the dance school to buy. Any one know this area?

Hi
I will move to Altrincham soon , I have 7 years old dc and looking for best primary school in the area , I have told that park road primary is very good as well as tyntesfield school . I m planning to find the best school first then find a house in the catchment area . Can anyone please help me to decide .

Today 15:31 Lolo2009

Hi
I will move to Altrincham soon , I have 7 years old dc and looking for best primary school in the area , I have told that park road primary is very good as well as tyntesfield school . I m planning to find the best school first then find a house in the catchment area . Can anyone please help me to decide .