Moving to big bad Nottingham - primary school?

[nozmum]

Hi All Nottingham Wise-Mummies!

Houseprice crash notwithstanding (!), we are moving to Nottingham with two preschoolers and another one on the way. Plan at the moment is for state primary, then we are lucky enough to have the offer of family support to perhaps go for independant secondary..(seems a long way off but I like to plan ahead!)
I know the city for grown-ups but not for kids and especially not for schools - we need to be close to both QMC and NCH for DH to earn the bananas.. can anyone recommend good primary schools, comment on independents, areas to live? I am an urbanite and used to rent a (tiny overpriced) flat in the Park - but suspect this area is not really kid-friendly?

Grateful for all advice - and if anyone selling a house?!

West Bridgford is where you really should try and get.
Schools are fantastic and so over subscribed you have have have to be in the catchment area to get in.
Parks, shops, cafes, play areas, kids clubs ect all very good.
Me and dp are saving to move there we both have family there but the houses arn't cheap

oh and the west bridgford comprehensive school got better gcse results than a couple of the independent schools.

You will be inbetween qmc and nch not really close to any but in the middle.
If we don't move there before ds starts school he will be going to st josephs independent school in the center of nottingham.
(this is where he goes to nursery and its lovley)

Thanks Bogie
Any specific primary? Gearing myself up to plough through the Ofsted reports but always best to hear from real life testers!

If you're even remotely RC then you could look at schools that feed into Trinity School.

Don't think that WB comp gets better results than independents in town BTW.

We both work in Nottingham but don't live there so my info is grapevine rather than direct experience.

west bridgford infants - juniors - comp if you can get it.
The other primary ones are jesse grey, Abbey road, heymann, lady bay and thats all I can think of

Ran into a friend on the way home and was reminded that Fernwood in Wollaton is also very good, there are 3 schools infants, junior, comp. Much easier access to the hospitals too.

My dh is from Radcliffe on Trent - nice area to live, not too pricy and the schools there look good too. We were thinking of moving there but our dss are too happy at their excellent school here. I was in the QMC in Jan and it takes 20 mins max to get there not sure for the NCH but not long I doon't think no more than about 30 mins dh just said.

Radcliffe is nice but quite far from city hospital about 45 mins (dp is from there and had to drive near there for work)
The primary is nice but the comp is going downhill due to closure of other schools in really bad surrounding areas and all the kids from there moving to dayncourt.

Message withdrawn

Thanks all for advice! Probably end up WB or wollaton - bit scared by the traffic reports - anyone know how long it takes to get to QMC/City in rush hour (and more importantly get home again for the nursery pick ups?!)

Radcliffe isn't great at secondary level so I'd avoid unless you want to be taking your DCs away from established friends.

West Bridgford is only worth the premium on property prices if you will be using the schools but the schools as a group are the best in the area. Try to get into the West Bridford Comp catchment though (although Rushcliffe has really picked up)

Avoid north of the city centre in general unless you are happy living in one of the villages. Woodborough, Bleasby, Ravenshead all nice with very good primary schools.

You could be back to either WB or Wollaton in 15 mins from city centre.

sorry I meant if coming from QMC. City would take much longer due to traffic and crazy city centre road systems

I think it would take longer than 15 mins from WB to QMC in rush hour TBH. There's a hopper bus between sites though so once he's at one could get to the other IYSWIM. You could walk to QMC from some parts of Wollaton (friend and her DH do this when it's sunny), they are on Parkside.

There are some beautiful houses up for sale in Wollaton at the minute. I would say 30 mins in rush hour to City from Wollaton and about 20 to QMC. Bramcote Village and Bramcote Hills also nice areas. Bramcote Hills Primary got Outstanding in all areas in recent Ofsted. Secondary school not looking so great but improving - have recently joined with other 2 local comps to form federation with 'superhead' - watch this space!

Fernwood Primary has good rep but much larger school than Bramcote. Secondary is better but I know parents who haven't been happy with it.

Do you know if he's going to be at the QMC or over at the city hospital more?

I know that West Bridgford is THE place to be with kids in Nottingham but if you are looking for other ideas, too, I live in the North not too far away from Lambley. The school there (from what I've heard and also seen in the league tables) is very good. There is also a very lovely small friendly nursery there. Lambley has a nice country feel to it because it's on the outskirts of Nottingham although it does lack a good shop. I live in Gedling not too far from Lambley and the school round the corner from us, although not quite as high in the tables as Lambley, got outstanding in all categories. From what I've heard. We timed the drive from our house to the city hospital (not in rush hour) as taking about 10-15 minutes (for my birth ). It wouldn't be much different from that from Lambley. Going to the QMC, however, especially in rush hour, is a different matter. I'd say about 45 minutes. May be more on the way back.

Thanks all who have advised - think we are looking Wollaton/Bramcote Hills now because did a rush-hour test drive from WB and got stuck on Trent Bridge for ages with screaming sprats..(although I agree very lovely when we got there!)Haven't found a house yet but being organised (premature!?) would appreciate any advice re good roads to pick / nursery / toddler groups where we can meet some of you lovely people et.c in Wollaton.. Does anyone send kids to Fernwood infants - is there any wraparound care facilty ?

Fernwood has no wraparound care at the moment. Friends who use it are school hours only.

If you're thinking you might go for independent secondary schools I would go for Bramcote Hills rather than Wollaton as it is in the Nottinghamshire County Council area rather than Nottingham City. Feels a bit further away from the city but still has excellent public transport links. And council tax is cheaper! Bramcote Hills is joint infant and junior. Has its own after school club (which is very oversubscribed)and is planning a breakfast club. It currently doesn't have its own nursery but there are plans to build one on the site.

There is a playgroup in the memorial hall in Bramcote Village which also runs an afterschool club - they pick up from Bramcote Hills primary and from Bramcote C of E - which is open till 6pm. This one also has a holiday club, which the school one doesn't. There are two private day nurseries in Bramcote Village, which both have good reputations. St Michael's church in Bramcote Village runs a very popular toddler group. Information overload! Hope this is helpful

Brilliantly helpful - thanks so much! Not sure how I would cope without MNers!

where did you end up?