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Original poster

Westerhope?

30 replies

SharingSharer · 15/08/2017 08:53

Hi we are hopeful going to be buying a house in westerhope and just wanted to see what people think of this area? We aren't from Newcastle so don't have a clue! Also, what do you think of Hilton primary academy? It's last Ofsted was rated outstanding but I've noticed it's not oversubscribed? Thanks for any advice or opinions.

OP posts:
kimlo · 15/08/2017 11:50

Westerhope is fine, but very close to newbiggin hall which is not so fine, but shouldn't be a problem.

Hilton academy were doing some fundraising in town all the pupils seemed confident, well behaved and engaged with what they were doing. They impressed me enough for me to still remember which school they were months later.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 15/08/2017 12:14

Thanks for the reply kimlo. The house we are buying is in the new build estate by the police station.

That's great re the school. It just seemed strange that it wasn't oversubscribed even though it was outstanding. Looking on the website, the school does look nice.

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Ninjakittysmells · 15/08/2017 14:59

Ahh I know that area well - thats estate agent speak for 'westerhope' but is very much newbiggan hall. I actually used to live in the new builds there, and while it was okay, I was nervous getting the bus (from outside the police station with the chucked out no goods after they were arrested!) it's a mix of people there, and there was shouting / trouble heard occasionally. That said, its a 10 years since I lived there so I'm not up to date.

Have you looked chapel house / chapel park / walbottle way instead? Or Kingston park? Also, I don't know about Kenton as a secondary school which I think is the catchment area. My friends just moved her sons from there as there was a lot of bullying.

Again, this is all personal experience and not across the board, but worth considering.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 15/08/2017 15:23

Thanjs for replying ninja
Oh no that doesn't sound too good. I've read quite a few bad things about newbiggan hall. They have built more newbuilds into that estate. Herrington drive I think? That's where the house is.

How long does the bus take from there to get into the centre of Newcastle?

OP posts:
kimlo · 15/08/2017 18:53

that is newbiggin hall really.

The bus takes about half an hour, they are pretty regular.

Chapel house is nice.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 15/08/2017 19:49

Ah might need to re think then. It's a shared ownership house so don't have much choice of where we want to live unfortunately.

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Original poster
SharingSharer · 15/08/2017 19:49

Ah might need to re think then. It's a shared ownership house so don't have much choice of where we want to live unfortunately.

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kimlo · 15/08/2017 20:25

I don't know much about shared ownership, but a quick look on rightmove showed two in Kenton. One 2 bed and one 3 bed.

There was also one in saltwell which is in Gateshead. Near the park, but seemed to be a small amount you would own at 25%.

Ninjakittysmells · 15/08/2017 21:21

I don't know much about shared ownership either - just had a look on rightmoce though, stay away from Scotswood. Houses look fab but it's really not great area. If there are any on Great Park in your budget then that's a lovely area, think I saw one in killingworth and West Allotment too which I think are nice places.

I feel like I need to stress, when we lived there, it was over 10 years ago so the estate may have changed since then. I was seduced by the new housing bubble but our place was right on the edge too (Shawdon Close) so we were maybe more susceptible to trouble? Maybe don't rule it out without viewing it and chatting to the neighbours?

Original poster
SharingSharer · 16/08/2017 08:06

Thanks so much for your help. It's so hard to judge when you don't know the area so I really appreciate your help. I'll look at the places you've mentioned.

We are going to view the house on Thursday so I will see what it's like then.

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kimlo · 16/08/2017 12:07

my advice would be while you are there, go and look at the surrounding areas, not just the estate you will be on. You will get a much better idea of what you think of it then.

Ninjakittysmells · 16/08/2017 15:23

I think your two local shops / take aways are the top two of the attached screenshot (the second one is more local, the top one is slightly further away but still your corner shop)

I would highly recommend going and having a look - maybe walk to them from the house, get a feel for the people you pass / are also using the shops etc.

Westerhope?
ALemonyPea · 16/08/2017 18:04

My sister lives near Hilton School. It's in Blakelaw rather than Westerhope. I'd avoid it really as it is quite a rough school, there are signs on the gates telling parents not to swear.

Farne Primary is a lovely school though.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 16/08/2017 19:32

Well we went for a drive round the area today and spent about an hour and a half going around. We drove around the school too. The house seems in a nice enough area. The school in the other hand was in an awful area. There was an abandoned mattress in the street with kids bouncing on it and one even had a lighter! The school itself looked lovely and had loads of outside space with different areas and play equipment.

Newcastle council website have posted a link of available school places for September 2017 and this is the only school in the area that has school places in both reception and year 2. I did look at farne primary school but it doesn't have any places for reception.

Thanks for the picture ninja, I will have a walk along to those shops, that's really helpful.

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Logoplanter · 16/08/2017 19:42

I'd avoid too if it is in Newbiggin Hall which it sounds to be.

Completely agree about Kingston Park if you can. Lovely estate, good first school, on the metro etc. Our first house was there and it was a lovely place to live. We've also lived in Great Park which is nice too but a bit soulless.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 16/08/2017 20:14

I think it's just on the edge of newbiggin hall. I'm still going to look around tomorrow but I've been majorly put off.

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kimlo · 16/08/2017 20:53

I've looked at that list, there are 2 schools in lemington that have places in those years. It's not far if you are driving, or there's a bus that goes to pretty much outside both of them and comes every quarter of an hour or so. Not walkable though if thats important to you.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 16/08/2017 21:23

Kimlo you are amazing! I'll have to look at where they are but I don't mind getting a bus to school if it's a nice one.

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kimlo · 16/08/2017 21:31

have a look at the websites and the facebooks pages and see what you think betweens those 2 things you should get a good idea of the type of schools they are.

Obviously its a bit harder now due to the holidays.

ALemonyPea · 17/08/2017 17:53

Most schools will have no places for reception, but once the school year starts, there may well be movement. I'm in The Kingston Park/Kenton/Gosforth area, my DC go to the Gosforth schools which is a three tier system and I can highly recommend it.

Avoid Fawdon, but the surrounding areas are quite fine.

Original poster
SharingSharer · 17/08/2017 18:05

A bit of an update.

Went to view the house. It's amazing. Went to look around the school area again and talking to people. One of the people we spoke to turned out to be a teaching assistant at the school. She was lovely and said the school was great. The other people we spoke to were friendly and recommended the school too.

OP posts:
kimlo · 18/08/2017 08:06

are you feeling more confident about it now?

Original poster
SharingSharer · 18/08/2017 08:26

DH is related to a teacher in Newcastle who has previously looked around the school and told us to avoid. I feel like we are back to square one. Confused

All of the half decent schools are full. Or have space for one and not the other.

I think we will just have to go on the waiting lists and hope for the best. And probably not move if we don't get them into a school.

Thanks for all your help kimlo.

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ALemonyPea · 18/08/2017 09:44

The reception aged child doesn't need to start until they're 5 anyway. Put the older in into school and hope for a place to come up.

Notthedoctor32 · 18/08/2017 10:26

Hi agree with Ninjakittysmells, Newbiggin Hall isn't a nice area at all and would avoid at all costs!
I live at the top of Lemington near Lemington Road Ends round about and couldn't ask to live in a nicer area (for the money we paid!).
Chapel house/park area is also just as nice, with the odd rowdy family here and there maybe.
Kenton School is horrendous!!!
Walbottle as a secondary school is ok but I don't think they did too well in there last offsed than previous years.
Hope this helps!