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Original poster

Good schools in Warwick and Leamington Spa

16 replies

Crism80 · 12/04/2017 13:07

Hello everyone

I have just been offered a new job in Gaydon and are looking to move to Warwick/Leamington Spa area with my wife and our 8 years old daughter.
I am very worried for the little one as she will have to leave her school, friends and all the little things that she do around where we live.
For me it is heartbreaking to know that she will be lost and worried in the new area.
Could I ask you to advise on good areas to live around these 2 towns and good and welcoming schools that we could look into and have her to move to?

Thank you

Mike

OP posts:

IamBarber · 24/04/2017 12:13

My knowledge is a few years out of date and limited to Warwick but Coten End was the most popular there. I have friends with kids in Telford in Leamington who are very happy. Hampton Magna is also very good - a bit away from Warwick but easy to get on the A46 to Gaydon.

It is worrying to move to a new area but it is a lovely area for families - my family is moving back soon and we're really looking forward to new schools and activities for our kids.

Original poster

Crism80 · 24/04/2017 13:55

Hi IamBarber
Thanks for suggesting Coten End, Telford and Hampton Magna, I will look into these for sure! I actually found Coten End through ofsted but it is very hard to get into: heavily oversubscribed.
Have you heard about Woodloes primary by any chance?
Move like this is quite worrying indeed, just hope that she will settle in just fine!
What age are your kids? When you will move back over would be lovely to meet up!
Thanks again!

OP posts:

IamBarber · 24/04/2017 14:14

Woodles was recently extended and is a big school. I don't really know much about it though. There are a lot of good schools and lovely little villages around Warwick and Leamington. Something that's affected our choices is looking into the secondary schools as well - comes around so quick and we don't want our kids starting all over with no friends at that stage.
My kids are 6 to 9 and my husband is looking into getting a job in Gaydon in the near future!

crunched · 24/04/2017 22:25

Bishops Itchington is a good location for young families near Gaydon.

Original poster

Crism80 · 25/04/2017 00:30

Thanks crunched. How is the community around there? I lived in a small village in Dorset few years ago. Neighbours were not really bothered to even reply to "hello". Are people in Biahops more open to newcomers? What is the lical primary like?

OP posts:

Original poster

Crism80 · 25/04/2017 00:32

sorry for typos.. My fingers are definitely too fat for this tiny smartphone keyboard :)

OP posts:

WhereYouLeftIt · 25/04/2017 10:57

I'm a few years out-of-date regarding primary schools now, but when DS was that age I can honestly say I heard good things about all the primary schools in Leamington. I had a friend who inspected them all minutely, and listening to her I came to the conclusion that I was fine with whichever school had a place for him. We ended up in Milverton, which we were very happy with. There was a breakfast/afterschool club on site, which DS was happy in, and a nursery not-quite-onsite too.

The Head has changed since he was there, and that can make a massive difference, so I can't say for sure it's still as good as it was; but my son was very happy at Milverton.

crunched · 25/04/2017 13:45

As you probably know, a whole new village is being planned around Gaydon. Therefore Bishops Itch is a more established location. Two (not large) estates have been built there so there has been an influx of new young families who seem to have been welcomed by the existing community. Also because it is such easy access to the M40, you get a good mix of people.
Good primary schools in Warwickshire abound in my opinion. When speaking to parents, remember that passing the 11+ is the ultimate aim for many it seems.
As PP have said, Warwick and Leamington are great choices as well.
Wellesbourne is a friendly large village, it has a solid primary or some prefer to pop over to schools in Barford and Moreton Morrell.

Original poster

Crism80 · 27/04/2017 09:23

Thanks for all your replies, I really, really appreciate your input.
As for secondary schools in the same area, would you be able to tell which ones are good to look into? As IamBarber mentioned above, it will come around so quickly. Would be good to know which ones are best to look at. Thanks!

OP posts:

beela · 27/04/2017 17:29

Southam College seems to be the secondary that everyone is trying to get into - though I've heard mixed reviews.

The catchment area has recently changed, I believe.

IFartGlitter · 24/05/2017 09:18

Crism80- Coten End is excellent and if you can move to the catchment area you should be able to get in. I know they have spaces in year 3 if it helps.

Ann1e05 · 06/09/2017 17:12

Hi,

I've heard about the Coten End school. It is very nice school and one of the best one around the area. We just moved to Warwick a week ago and registered my daughter in Coten End school. She's in year 5 this year and we got a place. So happy. She's little bit worries about the new school but told her that she'll be fine. She's looking forward to her new school

MulliR · 09/11/2017 15:22

Hi Crism80. Just wondered if you have moved and if so where you ended up? My husband works in Gaydon and has done for 4 years now and we live near Bedford so a rather long commute each day and since having our little one last christmas we are thinking of moving closer to his work. Having been looking at Southam, Long Itchington, Bishtops Itchington, Bishops Tachbrook but struggling we dktbknek the areas at all! Any tips or advice most appreciated!

AlwaysWelcome · 03/12/2017 21:05

All of those are lovely MulliR. What are your priorities?

Southam is a small town with lots of facilities and schools to choose from. Everything in one place and lovely atmosphere.

Long Itchington has great pubs and village atmosphere but is quite a way from general facilities. Lovely setting and houses.

Bishop's Itchington is very handy for Gaydon and has a lot of workers there but also isn't very near much else. Good choice of family houses.

Bishop's Tachbrook is close to Warwick and Leamington as well as 1 junction up from Gaydon. Housing choice for families is limited unless you want a new build which there's lots to choose from. Lovely atmosphere and great pub. Good primary school and preschool.

So I'd recommend Southam or Bishop's Tachbrook myself.

doglover102 · 15/07/2018 14:58

I don't know much about primary but DS went to Trinity for a year. Very liberal and he was well supported there :)

OldMotherIce · 09/09/2018 17:58

Today 17:45 OldMotherIce

We're looking to move to Warwick/ Leamington and we've found a house that's almost perfect for us in the new builds off Harbury Lane (the Bellway bit). However I can't work out the primary school situation. I had assumed we'd be in the priority area for the new Heathcote Primary School (we'd be 0.4 miles away from the school) but when I looked on Warwickshire's catchment area website we're not. It seems that none of the houses near the school are in the priority area but houses on the other side of the estate are. Does anyone know how this works?

Also can anyone tell me what Briar Hill Infant School and St Margaret's C of E junior are like as the Warwickshire website says we would be in the priority area for these?

I'm expecting at the moment so there's lots of time before I actually need schools but I don't want to have to move again.

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