Primary Schools in Allestree

[ShasR]

Having recently moved to Allestree, we are currently reviewing options for Primary Schools. I understand there are mainly 3 - Lawn, Portway and Walter Evans.

I would appreciate your thoughts / feedback / experiences for these schools.

Thanks

I have friends with children at all 3, or will be. Walter Evans seems to be more difficult to get in if not in catchment or not meet church requirements.
Portway has separate infant and junior section so if not in catchment no guarantee that can go from one to the other. They all are happy.

All three are good places for your DC to go. If you are actually in Allestree, you are probably nearer to Lawn or Portway - in which case I would go for whichever one is closer - easier walk to school, all the local kids will go there (which is a good thing when your youngest child is throwing up at 8.30am - you can nip the older one round to a neighbour to take them).

My DC went to Portway. The infant head is lovely and the junior head is a good junior school head too. Both have relatively recent Good from Ofsted. Lawn was RI for a while but has a new head and I think things are getting better. If you don't have an obvious choice in terms of where you are, go and look round them.

BTW I have never heard of anyone not getting into Portway Juniors after being at infants, tho clearly if you are a long way out of catchment it may be worth considering.

Hi,sorry to jump into conversation,I will be relocating to Allestree/Duffield next year and have 3 children to find schools for,just 1 girl age 9 at primary, looking for some information on best school,Also interested in local mums meet up for a brew ,thanks

Duffield primaries (William Gilbert and Meadows) are both well rated. Duffield secondary (Ecclesbourne) is also very highly rated. It is very academic and high-achieving.

Schools in Allestree also good, Woodlands secondary does well and the primaries as I say below are good places. Ignore the Lawn Ofsted, the new head has made a big difference since then.

Best thing is to go and have a look round to see. May not be in-year places at those primaries as they are pretty popular.

Thanks Clary,Yes I will go look soon at these schools

My 2 older kids just now are very academic so I don't know if that helps in anyway,I think it will be more tricky for them moving especially my son who is 13 as he is not so keen to move.

You might struggle to go straight into a place at Ecclesbourne as it is over-subscribed and therefore full I assume. But if you move into the catchment area (Duffield, a few rural villages and parts of Allestree/Darley Abbey) then you will go to the top of the waiting list.

Yes I thought that Ecclesbourne is difficult to get in,wherever we choose we will live in the catchment area first,going in another direction I was thinking of Melbourne/Repton area !!!

I would be great full for anyone's information on theses areas also.

Melbourne is lovely, usual secondary is Chellaston, very high-achieving/well rated too.

Not sure where kids who live in Repton go for secondary... John Port probably, biggest school in the county, 2000+ students.

Thank you for your information Clary,its early stages yet but we do have full support from dh work for relocating also educational support too.

Looking at houses all the time on rightmove ,just want to get down there and have a good look around.