Isle of Man, any mnetters with advice or thoughts on primary schools?

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

We are thinking of moving to IOM with DH's job. We would need to live within 10 miles of the hospital, so schools within that radius also.

I have read a few bits and pieces on the education system over there, but would like it from a parent.

TIA.

Bump

Hello, I will help as much as a I can for some thoughts but my knowledge is not amazingly up to date. I live in the UK but grew up on the Isle of Man, my parents moved there when I was 5 and I did all my schooling over there. My parents, sister and two brothers live there still, my sister has two children but they are preschoolers.

One of the key factors in my parents moving over there were the schools, they are good, mostly with small class sizes (there were 17 in mine, but I think 25 would be considered quite large).

The Island is only 33 miles from end to end, we grew up in the south of the Island in Port Erin which is a lovely area, so even from furthest south the hospital takes about 25-30 minutes, you certainly don't get the same sort of traffic you get over here.

In the South the schools are (from South upwards), Rushen (big primary school in Port Erin but a good reputation, split infant and junior), Port St Mary (Scooil Phurt le Moirrey - a lovely school, very small class sizes, typically 12-15), Victoria Road in Castletown (would probably avoid, Castletown is a nice area but this school draws from a bit of a mixed area, it's the only Castletown school though), Arbory in Colby/Ballabeg, again a lovely school with small class sizes, Ballasalla (I went to this school, again it's quite small and has a good reputation, but has a slightly mixed area, better than Vic Road). The secondary in Castletown is where my brother goes and where I went, it used to be a great school and does well, but it has recently lost it's head who was very unpopular, the school is not as good as it used to be but that may now change).

A really nice area, and where I would live should I move to the Island, is St Johns, the primary school is nice, it's about 15 minutes from Douglas, and the secondary school in Peel is the best on the Island (QEII). There's another big primary in Peel called Peel Clothworkers, I don't really know what it's like but you could google it, I think Peel is quite a nice area.

Even closer to Douglas is a place called Onchan which is quite a nice area, really close to Douglas (and close to the hospital) and I think it has two schools, Onchan, and Ashley Hill. You would have to research them as I don't know them well, I have a feeling Onchan has the better reputation but that is probably about 10 years ago (or more, I'm 32 !!) There's also Scooil Vallajeelt (a few schools have Manx names) and I know the Head there taught my brother and he was great, I think that is a nice school, it's draws from a nice, family type area). Schools to avoid are Anagh Coar (on one of the two big nasty estates in Douglas), Manor Park (on the other one !) and I think Murray's Road has a bit of a dodgy reputation but I might be judging it unfairly. There are small schools called Braddan, Kewaigue and a few others too, I can't recall them all !! There are two secondary schools in Douglas called St Ninians and Ballakermeen, I did A levels at Ballakermeen but St Ninians is the better school (or it used to be, it's all relative, all the secondary schools on the Island would be considered good here).

Up north Kirk Michael is a nice area and has a primary school, and further north still is Ramsey which I don't really know. It has a secondary school which is good, I wouldn't know the primary schools, I think there is Maughold but a bigger one too, I can't remember what it's called (don't live up North, there's nothing there !)

So, my top recommendations would be in the South (Rushen, Port St Mary school, or Arbory as a preference but I do know these schools better), in St Johns, possibly Peel, or in Douglas then Onchan.

Drop me an email if you need more help as I have three good friends there who are primary school teachers and my sister lives there too so I can pick her brains (as well as my parents) which will be very up to date. My email is helencw [@] fsmail [dot] net

My dh was offered a job there two years ago which he accepted but then turned down because I got cold feet (I have lots of friends here), I know a lot of people think the Island is in the middle of nowhere and is a damp rock, but it's a fantastic place for children, great schools, very little crime, great community spirit and there is a reasonable amount to do (maybe not so for teenagers).

Good luck, I'm sure that must be other Manx people here who can help you out more specifically with other areas !!

Helen

Still thinking ! Foxdale and Laxey are both nice areas too, Laxey is on the northern outskirts of Douglas so further from the hospital than Onchan, but still close. FOxdale is quite small, close to St Johns but the school is nice and children normally go on to QEII, or possibly Castle Rushen (southern school). I think you are pretty likely to get a place wherever, I don't think they really have waiting lists etc.

Helen, thank you so much for that very comprehensive reply, just what we were looking for.

We are hoping to go over in August to get a general feel for the Island, we did live on Jersey before we had children, and really enjoyed the life, so we are looking forward to the visit.

Thanks for your email address, I promise not to stalk you!

Hiya, so if you've lived on Jersey then you probably will like the Island, the climate is not as good as Jersey though !! We often think about moving back, we very nearly did two years ago but I did get nervous at the last minute and dh withdrew his job acceptance.

It depends where you live now and how things would change for you. Although it's small, that does have pros in that it's very safe, and ideal for young families. I'm sure my children and dh would be very happy !! I worry as the main drawback is that it's quite isolated, a 2.5 hour boat journey to Liverpool (flying to Liverpool is reasonable, but to Gatwick it's extortionate and there are 5 of us now). We live in Surrey so I wouldn't have been able to pop back and forwards to see friends. I have a lot of family and friends there and I love holidays, we may move when the children are at either junior or secondary school level (currently 4, 3 and nearly 1)

There's a racing week from August 22nd - September 4th (not the TT, but Manx Grand Prix week), so if you go then you may find a few motorbikes whizzing past and more tourists than normal, it's not really representative of the Island, that only happens for 4 weeks in the year (TT and MGP !) Also, August is a lovely month with the sunshine and beautiful walks and beaches, it doesn't look quite the same in January :-) We are going back in August for a week, it probably will be at the end though as that's when I'm taking time off work.

Overall, if you enjoy quiet, family life with beautiful scenery and the ability to let your children cycle to the shops without being worried about child-snatchers or articulated lorries mowing them down, it's a good place (note, my dh laughed last time we were there as the front page of the newspaper read "Man Arrested For Dancing on Bar Stool in Pub" - that kind of thing !! If you are a city-dweller though, and like a host of attractions on your doorstep (there are lots of walks, and we never struggled for extra-curricular sports/music etc etc activities when we were young) then you may struggle.

Feel free to email,

Helen
PS I am very disppointed that there are no other Manxies out there.....

Hello, I have just spotted this thread. I am from the Isle of Man, and also used to teach there (Secondary) but no longer live there; like helen my family are still there. I think most of the primary schools are good and compare very highly with the schools in the UK. Also (having just gone through the nightmare that is applying for primary with DS1 in Bristol) there doesn't seem to be any problems with 'catchment' areas or oversubscription. My nephew went to St Mary's in Douglas (RC school) which was excellent. A 10 mile area of the new hospital would cover a lot of schools, traffic would be your main consideration as it is now very congested in the Douglas area, I visited a few weeks ago and couldn't believe how bad it was!

Hi, I live on the IOM, I'm not an expert as we've only been here 2yrs, we also moved due to OH's job relocation.

My DD starts at Marown School in Glen Vine in Sept, we live in Crosby which is nice and only a few miles from Douglas (on the hospital side).

There are catchment areas and many schools now operate closed catchement - ie they only take from their catchment areas. So that's something to think about when choosing a house.

Feel free to get in touch if you need any info.

Helen77, LadyIsabella and Ixia, I have just noticed these new posts, thanks for replying and sorry for the late response.

We are flying out to the IOM tomorrow for the weekend, DH is visiting the hospital, and we are hopefully viewing a few houses, 1 outside Douglas, and 2 in Ramsey, I know that is a bit further than the 10 miles but we can't resist them.

Basically if the job ticks the boxes for DH, and we like the feel of the Island we will go for it, DD's are 6 and 4, so are portable.

We have done a fair bit of research as to what the IOM has to offer, and we have found all the things that we like there, diving, pony club, ceramic studio, and of course a safe family environment.

We are currently in a village in the Cotswolds, and have lived in the Lake District, and as I've said on Jersey, so we are not looking for a buzzing city. We are quite happy to visit them, but are always glad to get home.

I will be back on Monday so will let you know how the trip went.

Thanks again.

Hope the visit went well

Hi Ixia, can I ask u abt the Marown School. We are planning to move to IOM due to my husband job. Can anyone give me some advice and information. Any help will be appreciated.