Northern England - what is it like for HErs?

[CakeMixture]

Hi all
We are seriously considering moving to Durham or Carlisle/Penrith or nearby and Im wondering what the local HE scene is like?
I have joined several local lists but am waiting for moderation (nearly a week now I think) so Im beginning to think maybe nothing much happens?

I have ds 10 dd 7 dd6 and really really want to make lots of friends! For them but me too! HEing where we are at the moment is seriously lonely. An hours drive on the motorway means a really good group but the two more local groups have disappeared (not enough people/no suitable venue)

Lots of other reasons why we are considering leaving this area too. I have spent hours on findaproperty/rightmove drooling over properties - if the local HE scene is rubbish I need to stop looking at the property porn!

Thank you :)

Hi CakeMixture

I'm in the North East and have to admit that there hasn't been much group activity on the HE scene here for a couple of years. Some key members who used to organise a lot of groups and activities haven't been around and it's had a significant impact.

I don't think it helps that in this area there there is a relatively small but very diverse network of home educators and that means it's hard to get numbers for organised groups and activities. People tend to organise things off-list, among groups of friends, on a much smaller scale than used to happen. We're still regarded as a bit 'out there' with some education venues so it can be difficult to access opportunities here which might be easier in other areas.

That said, there's been a flurry of activity over the last few days and a lot of new things are being set up, largely because one of those key home educators who was MIA for such a long time is now back on the scene and getting some groups and sessions going. It's definitely picking up, especially for children of your kids' age, so I'd imagine you'd find the sort of thing you say you're looking for.

Which lists are you waiting for moderation from?

Hi Streaky! (you helped me find instructions for nat geo thing a couple of years ago, under a different name!)
Thankyou so much for your thoughts! I've been watching the 'flurry' of posts and have now said 'hello' on that list. Someone has now contacted me to say they are new to being a mod and can't figure out how to approve me (hence delay)
Your post fills in the gaps/impression I was getting from readingthe 'flurry' and all of you on that list do seem lovely and very much the sort of people I could easily be friends with. :)
I'm in a quandry as we have moved (locally) 4 times in 7 years but I'm not convinced I want to stay here long term

Also you are all very open in talking about your kids and your HE experiences. it's not like that here - lots of major arguing and permanent falling outs have really splintered things. About 5 big personalities too who love organising and being in charge but are incapable of cooperating together (so it seems to me anyway!) Here you are almost considered odd if you post open friendly messages such as you folk do.
Having said that we have now been to a group that was wonderful (but very difficult to get too)

Ah, was that the crystal growing kit? I do remember you!

It's not all perfect in HE here - people are people whatever environment you belong to and there will always be disagreements, different personalities, things to avoid and others to embrace. Just like in school we learn to cherry pick the best bits and leave the rest. Overall though it's fine and I've made some very good friends among local home educators. As I said, there's a wide range of attitudes and outlooks, ways of doing HE and it's not really a problem to find people with the same viewpoints as yourself, it's just quite hard here to find enough like-minded souls to make up enough of a group for some activities. A lot of things tend to get started but fizzle out after a short while due to lack of interest or commitment - some families like to dip in and out of activities when it fits with their schedules and in small groups relying on numbers that can cause problems. A lot of people but they all do things differently iykwim so there's not a lot of commonality. That's my impression anyway, and there are a few who agree with me. I think it's perhaps different with younger children where play and socialising are given a greater priority (my ds is 13 now so hangs out with an older group).

But yes, it's definitely a friendly bunch for the most part, though admittedly I don't know everyone who HEs in the area. Certainly there's a lot of opportunity for you to make friends both for you and your children.

Thanks for that
Have you used your crystal set yet - cos we havent! And recently we found (in another charity shop) a Nat Geo chemistry set, again brand new and unused and once again without instructions! (hence unused in charity shop!)
As the instructions are 30ish pages in full colour im reluctant to print them so both still unused - I will one day force myself to do it with the pdf on the screen as we figure it all out - argghhh

Re moving to Durham area, I really value your opinion (and anyone else!)
Its hard because Im not happy living here but..........
Ive just discovered a group that I love that offers free exams. So we have options - a nightmare travel to the group, move closer (not tempting) or leave the area altogether - durham is 300 miles away. But almost all other areas of the country scare me with terrifyingly high rents. My rent in this area wouldnt rent a cupboard in most other areas of the uk yet here we have a 3 bed house.
I think I am going to just sit on all my thoughts for a few months and see how we feel

No, we never did get round to making the crystals - there's always so much else to do and ds (adhd/as) takes ten times longer than necessary to do ANYTHING so we're a bit limited with what we can get out of 24 hours! Might get round to it one day...

I see your problem with moving. It's a difficult decision and it won't be perfect, wherever you go. I am prepared to be corrected but I don't think there's anywhere in Durham that accepts external candidates for IGCSE, which restricts to GCSE and coursework, and the costs that incurs. I'd be very tempted by free exams but I guess it's swings and roundabouts.

Probably best to wait a while and think some more - it's not something to make snap decisions about, after all.

Good luck .

A friend's DD has done IGCSEs somewhere in Durham as an external candidate and I know of a couple more that take private candidates (and those schools do IGCSEs themselves).

That's interesting Tinuviel - you couldn't find out which schools they are, could you, and let me know?

IIRC there's a school in the depths of Weardale that will take private candidates for IGCSE, though I don't personally know of anyone who has used them.

Whitley Bay High School is where most people I know go - they are very good there for external candidates.

We are in Newcastle and meet with several other families with younger children (my eldest is nearly 4), some of whom live in Durham. Lots going on for the younger age group but not sure if that would be what you are looking for with the slightly older bias in your family?

I keep an eye on HE (because I really want to do it, but can't) and the under sevens group was pretty active, at least up to the point where we had to give up on the idea :-(

Yarm School near M'bro seemed fine to take DS1 for GCSE Latin (although we have now decided to delay it till 2013. A friend is using Barnard Castle; another definitely uses a Durham school - I will ask which one.

there is a yahoo list for cumbria which might be worth contacting... i know some folks do meet in penrith but haven't been myself.

Durham School is quite happy to take private candidates for IGCSE but only AQA and Edexcel.

Thanks for that Tinuviel - will investigate further!

We currently have a regular weekly meetup in Durham on Weds, which we've been doing for well over a year. The regular children are from 2 up to about 8..and then there are generally some 10 year olds but only when they know others the same age will be there iykwim. Last weds we made pancakes in the woods - about 30 on two single burner stoves in quite strong winds!

We also meet up Weekly on Tues at Washington, again the regulars are up to about age 7. There is usually a good turn out.
There is also a Tees Valley group that meets up on an ad-hoc basis (organised via yahoo group), generally every few weeks and it has been at soft play places through the winter and parks in summer with the odd craft day at someones house. So if you move to Durham and have transport, those meetings will also be accessable.

and as a pp said, there will also be one off educational trips advertised on the boards as well as other things being organised among groups of friends off list.

Not sure about Newcastle, I know people are meeting regularly (at least weekly) as part of under7's and over 7's group (not quite sure why the age distiction as it is open to younger/older siblings anyway!). But I'm sandwiched between Durham and Teesside and find enough going in this area, also I find city driving a bit stressful so don't venture to Newcastle and beyond as much as I have in the past.

Just as a thought for those of you thinking about exams or lack of them. I'm in the north east, and homeschooled my DS from age 12 up. He is now at a college of FE, and actually started the course early, as they were happy to take a portfolio of work and the work of our LEA liaison. They sort of "gave him a trial" and he has then done certificates in academic things (english, maths etc) alongside his actual course (which is catering and hospitality) and has managed to do the extras with no problems.
Just thought I'd mention it anyway, so you know it is possible to go this way in this area
We couldn't afford to pay for GCSEs, so had to find a way round it, or I'd have had to have either sent him in as a resit candidate or taken out a loan we couldn't pay or something equally "desperate". It all worked out really well though once I looked into it. I did have to do a bit of legwork and sort of "force myself" on a couple of people but they were all really helpful once they understood where we were coming from. I think we're a rarity though, not one of them ever seems to have had dealings with a HE pupil before. Total delinquents and expelled ones yes, and addicts, and even ones who've been in jail! but not homeschool

the word of the liaison, not her work!

Ooh, there are meetups in Washington? Sounds good :)

Like I say, we don't HE and DD is at a lovely school, but HE is what I wanted to do and i s the plan if any excuse reason comes up, so I like to keep an eye on stuff.

I found it a bit difficult to get to some of the groups, as we don't have a car, so I am always in favour of stuff being in Newcastle centre, as it is the easiest place to get to from anywhere in the NE using public transport, but Washington is personally best for us :)

When I was looking into it, the group at the Arts Centre had stopped, so it is good to hear that it is back on.

Do you happen to know if anybody in Sunderland (inc Washington) flexi schools at all? The HE lady at the council said nobody does, but she seemed pretty nice about HE in general.

It is wimpy of us, but I would be HEing like a shot if more people did it. I know that people like me need to do it so that more people do it, etc, but I just don't have the energy to be fighting with facilities, dealing with a fallout in a tiny community, etc. I have health problems, but of course I would HE if I thought that school was harming the DDs, or that there was the support if I had a relapse.

We essentially HE out of school time, and look on school as kind of a socialisation and basic skills class atm. It is a lovely, lovely school, but pretty conventional in subject coverage etc. At home we can follow what comes up. This weekend it has been biology, with the 2 yo being used as a test subject, books and tv programs to watch, a model skull and brain to look at, etc.

I personally don't understand why school/HE is so binary, in a way that nursery isn't. Surely you can HE out of school hours, or send a HE child to be tutored/childminded/etc, just like a younger child can go to nursery some days without the parents abdicating all responsibility for the education? But that is my personal rant for another time :)

I just wish school didn't take up such an awkward slot of time.