moving to Ilkley very soon, what are the primary schools like?

[mariannesteven]

we're moving to Ilkley very soon and have 4 boys. which primary school would anyone recommend? my youngest also needs a pre school till Sept, suggestions please! thanks

have you already found somewhere to live?

are you wanting a faith school?

ben rhydding is a lovely area and school and the parents speak about it more highly than the ofsted report

very sporty school in a big rugby area and only just outside ilkley

I really rate Ashlands primary as they come across a caring and genuinely knowing each individual childrens strengths and difficulties and spring the child accordingly. I don't have children who go there tho (i have contact with the school professionally and a friends children go there and love it)

Support not spring lol

Another Ben Rhydding fan here :)

The house we are hoping to get is nearest to all saints c of e primary school. Is this a good school? I have a boy who'll need a place in year 3, two in year 1 and my littlest is due to start reception in sept. we're wondering whether to get over there ASAP to try to be able to apply by the 15 th for the littlest son, but don't know how easy it will be to find places for the 3 older ones! Are all the schools oversubscribed?

And will Ben rhydding take children from likely?

all saints is lovely but over subscribed (the majority are)

if you ring bradford council they will be able to tell you which schools have spaces in the year groups you need

to be fair I don't think there is a bad school in ilkley, I would be more concerned about not being able to get them all into the same school

To be honest, all the primary schools are good in Ilkley, I have friends with children at all of them and I don't know anyone who is unhappy. Ben Rhydding is currently the most oversubscribed although didn't get outstanding in its recent Ofsted so that may change. However, if you're house will be near All Saints you won't get into BR anyway- you'll be too far away. Ashlands has a very good reputation now although its current Head is leaving this year. It has a very strong, interested parent body and is moving to a two form entry this year so will be the largest primary in Ilkley. All Saints has the most modern up-to-date building and is a form and a half entry. Some people don't like the mixed year classes that result from that, others do. It's not as popular as it was a few years ago but is still a good school. Sacred Heart is a single form entry school, quite traditional and considered to be quite academic locally, it has a new Head this year- parents seems very pleased with her but is Catholic which may or may not appeal to you. Not all the children are Catholic there though.

I'd recommend visiting them all and seeing which you like the feel of best. I imagine ou will have to appeal to get your children in to whichever you like as all the schools are full.

Good luck, Ilkley is lovely and very welcoming of new peple moving in.

Any more questions please ask. I deliberately didn't say which school my children are at but in all honesty, there isn't school I would unhappy to send them to.

Thanks that's great info and so detailed, really helpful. Although gutted will prob have to appeal, but hey 4 kids!!! It's my own fault!
Glad to hear likely is friendly, know some family there but no other mums with kids, is there a good way to meet other mums over there? Thanks again

Hi mariannesteven - I'm fairly new to the area as well and my DD is starting school in September.

I've got visits planned for the schools this week so will be able to give you some feedback later on if you like although if you're already up here it's worth arranging a visit yourself - the schools are all very accommodating.

If you're looking to meet other mums in the area there's a site called moormums which has everything going on in the area on it.

I've been working so now I've had DC3 I'm looking forward to getting out and about myself - feel free to pm me if you like.

All the best with the move!

What a gorgeous area to move to :)
Give my love to Bettys.
I did some private tuition and supply teaching in Ilkley a few years ago [I lived in Skipton] and honestly there isnt a bad school.
My pt was in Ben Rhydding the pupils were privately educated though.It was a huge house-v posh parents from HK.

With 4 children you won't find it hard to meet other families. The school playgrounds are all busy for drop off and pick up and there are lots of after school activities- football, rugby, hockey, tennis, cricket, cubs/beavers, drama groups etc etc. Ilkley is a big enough town to have lots going on but small enough that it's easy to get to know people. It might be six degrees of separation in the rest of the world but in ilkley it is 2 or 3 at the most!

Good luck. I've been here about 12 years and I can't imagine moving away. It is a great place to bring up a family.

Also don't worry about appealing necessarily. I know a number of families who have moved into the area who have had to appeal for school places but have been successful, even for infant classes where it has meant increasing the class size to 30+. There is also some fluidity in classes- children leave as parents's jobs move etc or children move to the private sector, especially in Y4 or 5.

I second moormums, its a great site! The area is full of stuff to do for families and ilkley itself is beautiful. its also very close to Leeds for shopping and the countryside.
School wise ilkley has great schools so try not to worry!

thank you! what lovely people you are, thanks all of you, will be on to bradford LA in the morning. thanks pochemuchka would be great to hear what your impressions are too.

Blimeym! Yes all the schools in ilkley are full and over subscribed, thanks fayrazzled for heads up. However Bradford council were very kind and triesbto be helpful. Now in a mad dash to get house sorted in ilkley to get the youngest in for reception 2013!

Hope it goes well. If you need any info or fancy a chat/coffee when you arrive in ilkley, pm me :-)

Thank you dancing in the moonlight! Will do. By the way does anyone know which preschool to select for youngest son whose due to start reception in sept? Is the one at ashlands good?

"Is the one at ashlands good?" very.

• the nursery and reception year teachers/staff work as one team. This means that nursery is oozing with very highly qualified people who have complete up to date knowledge of what is expected of a child at reception level. If your child has a problem, you have the support of an in school SENCO, easy access to support services from the NHS, and the intellect and ability of the leadership team behind you. Big children can come in to watch the nursery nativity and nativity can "get used to the big hall" by watching big children nativities....

• unlike the rest of the school, the building work for nursery and reception is complete, so there is space, really good outside facilities plus access to the school field.

• plus when your work-life balance goes into meltdown, I think it has its own after school club separate from the big kids' after school club.

Generally, the pluses of Ashlands (ignoring things that all four schools have in common) are:

• by far the most working-parent-friendly school, both because of breakfast/after school club and a general culture of respecting parents' work-life balance
• by far the most mixed set of backgrounds in Ilkley (look up the figures for free school meals, etc) but very high standards. A pride in inclusivity.
• the advantages of size (one project there couldn't get off the ground with fewer pupils)
• a culture of being inquisitive about each child and each family rather than imposing one set of values
• a big school field

And the disadvantages are

• full! Oh for the days when we were undersubscribed.

• big! twice as big as Ben Rhydding. The head still knows every single child but obviously the sense of knowing who's who in the playground has had to change as we've nearly doubled in pupil number.
• building work in main part of school ongoing throughout this calendar year.

If you get to meet the head, just ask her views about the advantages and disadvantages of being a big as opposed to small primary. She'll give you a straight answer. It's a big issue, but the tricky thing as a parent is that you just don't know whether your child will win out or lose out as a result of being at a bigger school.

Thanks we need to talk about ilkley. School size isn't such a big deal to me, my 3 oldest boys will be coming from a school in Chester with 2 classes in each year so they are used to that size, only prob can't get them in as ashlands oversubscribed! Help!
Looking at schools Friday to apply for littlest, fingers crossed appeals work!

ok. your fallback is Addingham - next village up. Amazing little village, don't know much about the school but it's bound to be good because there are a very aspirational/demanding/highly educated set of parents there and an easy drive from Ilkley (well, so far as any drive could be easy if you're combining kids at two schools). worth having a look at.

now please do post and tell us all what you thought after Friday. We'll be dying to know which one you liked best and why :).

By the way, this could a great time to go to All Saints if you're ok with strong faith school stuff. They lost a very very established could-do-no-wrong head a couple of years ago but are well past the transition stage now and I rather suspect it has done them all good - could be the school that's "on the up" (as Ashlands was when we started there)

Thanks, we are leaving a school that "could do no wrong" and through last couple of years leadership now has grade3. I agree with you, if we wanted to stay where we are the new head will sort it in no time back to outstanding! I'll be happy with any school in ilkley. We'll be lucky to get one! Addingham sounds great but over full too! Will let you know what I thought after fri definately.

Ha! Re reading I don't mean to apply for littlest school! I mean to apply for littlest son! Sorry!

Hi,
How did the school visits go? I am in exactly the same position as you, I am moving to Ilkley in August, the catchment area will be All Saints, although looking at the reports I am not sure this is going to be best. Any feedback you have from your visits would be brilliant!