Schools in Harrogate/Leeds/York

[thaliablogs]

Looking for advice. I have been offered a very exciting new job based near Leeds. We currently live in London and my children are at great prep schools there which we are really happy with. They are 3 (boy) and 5 (girl). MOving would be a huge deal for us with family, nanny etc. but this is a once in a lifetime job offer. We would choose where to live based on ability for me to get to work, for family to get to us from London/South East, and on schools. Could anyone give me some hints about where to look/what to look for?

Both children seem quite bright, dd has really cracked reading and writing in the last month or so (she is in reception) although she says that maths and art are her favourite! She is quite confident socially and makes friends easily. She loves to dance.

DS is a very boyish boy, great at figuring out how to take things apart and put them together again. Not yet doing any reading and writing etc but can recognise letters and numbers. Needs structure and somewhere that will let him let his energy out as well as help him to focus and build his skills. He tends to lead any group he's in through force of personality, although he can also be quite shy. Lots of imaginative play (one night he is simba, the next he is a pirate, the next he is buzz lightyear etc.)

Any thoughts greatly appreciated, I don't really know where to begin.

Both Leeds and York have very good train links from London. York is quicker on the train (fewer stops) but Leeds is closer by car. Wetherby and Harrogate will be slightly more awkward to get to, but not awful.

I moved from a very mixed area of London and I love Leeds, but find the other places too much white privilege and not enough of a mix. Our DS goes to local primary which is very good, but can't advise on private schools.

I'd say it would be a no-brainer to move to Harrogate for the secondary years - St Aidans and Harrogate Grammar are both excellent state schools. So worth a look there now?

How about Westville House in Ilkley?

How much travelling back to the south will you be doing? I would definitely factor this in in terms of location. I know you won't want to be too specific about where the job is, but can you give an indication of where near Leeds it is?

Which side of Leeds? QEGS and WGHS in Wakefield are great and if you're going to be going back to London, connections by rail are excellent. Motorway too.

Hi thanks for the replies. It's west of Leeds but not much. Other
ppl from the company seem to live anywhere from Bolton to York, I get impression a fair bit of commuting goes on.

Those schools all sound good, I have been looking at Malsis school in Skipton, St. Peter's junior school in York, the Harrogate ladies junior school in Harrogate, froebelian and Richmond house and Leeds grammar in Leeds. Will go do some more looking now!

The London connection is really impt as we are leaving behind v good friends and family. Leeds and York much better for that than Harrogate in my experience. Also though want to take the opportunity of moving north to live in bigger house w big garden etc.

Thanks again for all the messages!