Sheffield

[Lond87]

Hi - I’m messaging for a friend who is moving to Sheffield. The area she is moving to has three schools as an option, Dobcroft, St Wilfrid’s and a private school. They’re deciding whether to go private or state for their daughter.

Does anyone have insight into what these state schools are like?

thanks so much.

St Wilfrid's is RC, is that what she wants? Also, which private school?
Is this for a reception start 2026?

No I don’t think so, I think she just said those are the 2 state school options.

the private school is Mylnhurst. It’s really deciding between state or private and if state which one would be better. Her daughter has a speech delay so they are trying to figure out what would be best

yes I believe it’s for reception 2026.

My son goes to Dobcroft and has been really happy there.

The teaching is very good, they have good SEN provision and parents are generally really supportive, engaged and welcoming.

The school runs a good after school programme with hour long extra curricular activities for an extra charge, with loads of different activities to choose from.

Both infants and juniors also have breakfast club, after school club and holiday childcare provision too which is really well run.

It’s also worth saying there are lots of additional activities, facilities and tutors in the local area too which plenty of the kids take advantage of, from football and cricket teams, music lessons, art clubs, cross country, gymnastics, tennis, it’s a really well resourced side of the city.

No state school will have all the resources a private school will, but we’re really happy with Dobcroft and would recommend it. Happy to answer any specific questions.

Do you want a Catholic school in particular or would Dobcroft suit? @CarlaPichinski seems very happy with it, so that's a good recommendation. I think it's about to join a big academy chain, I don't know if that makes a difference.

Dobcroft juniors is joining an academy, infants is still making its mind up I think.

Mylnhurst do have fab facilities, but I have no experience of how supportive they are with additional needs so can’t speak to that.

Just to flag, I don’t know what the NHS is like on speech delays and SALT in Sheffield, but we’re 3 years into waiting for an NHS ADHD assessment for our son, so it might be worth investigating private options to cover this.

This is all really helpful thank you. I don’t think they want a Catholic school in particular, it’s just more which is the best one as they don’t know school’s in Sheffield.

Neither one of us have kids in school yet, so this is all a bit unknown territory, are there downsides to joining an academy? Just trying to figure out if that is a negative and a reason to consider elsewhere?

thanks again.

It’s been pitched as a way for the school to have more autonomy and to free up money that can be redirected into teaching and resources, through sharing back office resources and increased economies of scale/better buying power.

However, there’s a lot of negative experiences and opinions on academies on the education board on mumsnet, so it seems like a really mixed bag!

Thanks very much!

Are there spaces at the 2 State schools mentioned?
Thats the first thing to clarify as people don't really get a choice if going for State, just a preference.

Apologies for my ignorance, but can you clarify that? As in do you not just apply and then find out? Is it more a case because she is moving to the area and doesn’t live there already?

sorry as mentioned we don’t have any kids in school yet so it all new to her / me.

If you or your friend could make it on Friday 27th June, S Anselms in Bakewell are having an open day which would be very worthwhile.

It is an easy commute from Sheffield - no traffic! - stunning location with fabulous facilities.

My child has been there for 4 years and we are so incredibly impressed with the nurturing teachers who push each child just the right amount to get the best out of them - but they all LOVE school. The community is lovely and I cannot recommend it enough.

www.sanselms.co.uk/step-into-sa/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLGq3VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhupe2aD7SRcCCUsvQpiw2JZm-J6pfzAhwhRPFdY3DAhc3pZMgR5n6CUKxBW_aem_CRm7DLzbaUv85wbKUyecRQ