Good schools around Manchester?

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We are thinking of moving near to Manchester and need some advice on schools. We have a ds currently in Yr2 and a dd who will be starting Reception in September. Any suggestions on where to look?

State or private? Trafford still has 11+ and grammar schools if you want that or at least want that option.

Sale has several good schools, you may find wherever you go that transferring in Y2 is difficult due to the infant class size limit. You may have more luck moving in Y3.

Also, reception places for September will be allocated soon, make sure you put on any school application that you will be moving within catchment, and contact the school to ask what their catchment is.

Manchester is a BIG place! Can you be a bit more specific? N, E, S, W?

Not particular yet about where in Manchester, really dependent on schools.

Thanks

There are a lot of good primary schools in Stockport which is an easy commute to Manchester. Have a look at the schools in Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall or the Heatons.

Wilmslow has a lot of very good primary schools too - my DS goes to one.

Also try posting in Mumsnet Local for Manchester if you want some personal experience/specific recommendations :)

Trafford. More or less all schools are very good.

I second Stockport

My DS is at Broadbottom, it's a lovely school and the location is fantastic. 20 mins from town by train, 10 mins from the Peak District, 30 mins by car from the airport. LOVE IT!

Are you looking at moving to the city centre only? I live on the Manchester/Leeds train route & there are some good state & private schools hereabouts only 15/20 mins out of the centre by train. PM me if you like.

My husband works in Manchester centre and would like to be closer to work. Currently living on the wrong side of the Pennines, but in a good school catchment with a free grammar school as a possibility for high school-hesitant to move due to that, and the fact that he doesn't really mind his commute. Of course, is all dependent on being able to sell the house and that fun, so how hard is it to move and get into a good school mid year if that happens?

Trafford in that case, it's your best bet for high school.

Everyone moving into Trafford seems to assume their kids will pass the 11plus and trot off to Grammar school.....

Hi
I live in Trafford, there some excellent schools however bear in mind that many of these good schools are heavily oversubscribed ... my DS started reception in September, they have 2 reception classes of 30 .... 143 children applied. I was also told by a neighbour whose son managed to get a place at one of Grammar schools that the year her son got in, for every 1 place there was 8 children applying and taking the 11+ exam.

We already live in oversubscribed school catchment-this current year there were over 200 extra applicants than spaces, and that is with a school that has 4 classes each year and two of those this year had 31 kids in. Next year is supposed to be very quiet, which is good for ds.

I kind of feel that way about Trafford also, Clawdy. Keep thinking might as well stay here with a grammar school nearby. Only know they take top 5%, and as we are out of catchment (on recipricole agreement through the councils) only about 5-6 get in from over here. Sigh. Will keep looking!

Can certainly recommend Stockport. Good schools in the Heatons especially,as someone else has said.

Many 'bright' kids still don't get into grammar schools!!