Moving to Warrington area - primary schools advise please!

[MonikaKB]

Due to my unexpected work relocation we are very shortly moving to Stretton/Grappenhall area (from Surrey). Our daughter needs to be transferred to new Primary School. There are places at Stretton St Matthews CofE and Oughtrington Primary School Lymm. We visited both schools and despite the fact they are both totally different schools we feel positive about both of them!

We would really appreciate advise, view on both schools from local parents please to give us better understanding of school and to make the right choice for our energetic and outgoing daughter!

Thank you!

Lucky you! We moved from London to Stockton Heath 6 years ago and absolutely love it. There are loads of threads giving advice about the surrounding areas.

I don’t personally have experience of either school but know a few kids from nursery/ preschool who go to St Matthews. From what I can tell it has a very good repuatation and a lovely, family community. I would say pick the nearest to where you will live. There are loads of really good primaries around and most should be able to offer you a place.
St Wilfred’s in Grappenhall is amazing, Stockton Heath primary is very good at the moment (it has officially been in special measures for a few years but don’t let that put you off as it has a really good head at the moment who has been there a few years turning it around). St Monica’s in Appleton is amazing, Grappenhall heyes is great but usually full. To be honest you couldn’t really go wrong with any of the primaries.

Read some of the old threads on the areas and then ask if you have any questions. Good luck with your move.

Thank you for this SunnyUpNorth!

I have read older threads regarding the areas in Warrington (and we are happy with Stockton Heath, Appleton, Grappenhall or Lymm) but in terms of primaries we do not have a big choice, as only St Matthews and Oughtrington have places for us in Year we require...

As much as I am warming up to St Matthews school (due to its easier access) I am not sure the school is vibrant enough taking into account the rural small community it lies within.

Have you looked at Broomfields in Appleton as that used to be a 4 form entry Primary School. Do not let that put you off as my children did very well there and I was very happy with the school. Its feeder Infants is Cobbs Infant School which again is excellent. Personally I think Grappenhall Heys seems in the middle of nowhere really as far as school catchment goes, very new build estates surround it and quite cut off. I used to live in Appleton.

Oughtringhton and Ravenbank in Lymm are also both large Primaries and good schools, have you tried there. In Primaries I am sure they can have larger classes than 30.

I’m surprised only those two schools have places. What Years are you looking at? I would choose St Matthews especially if you’re planning to live nearish there. It’s much better to be in the vicinity of the school for friends and play dates.

Crimson lake has a better idea than me of Cobbs and Broomfields as her kids actually went there but that’s the only school I probably wouldn’t send mine to in the area (sorry crimson!). It’s only because it’s huge, a three class intake and I know of a family who had problems there which were dealt with really badly by the teacher and head. It’s on two sites. Cobbs is the infant school and Broomfields is the junior school further up the road. I think splitting primary schools comes with its own problems. But I do know other people there who are very happy with it, it just wasn’t for me.

I also find G.Heyes very out of the way but it is supposed to be brilliant. Doubt they’ll have space anyway.

Feel free to pm if you have any specific questions.

PS I wouldn’t worry about finding it rural around Stretton. It’s two minutes into Stockton Heath, really easy to pop on the motorway from there etc.

Thanks for this.
I’ve called all “Good” and “Outstanding” rated local primary schools and only St Matthew’s and Oughtrington got place in Year One.
Grappenhall hays and Ravenbank have places but they are already allocated to families. I am not too keen on a very large primaries you mentioned. St Wilfred’s in Grappenhall seems a very good choice and recommend by everyone on Mumsnet! I haven’t visited it as there wasn’t a place at time I was in the area, but got a feeling this is a similar school to St Matthews?? I will give hem a call to see if space become available.

Personally I would not worry about larger Primaries. I have worked in Oughtrington and Ravensbank, both 2 form entries and lovely caring schools with excellent Ofsted reports. I had reservations when I sent mine to larger Primaries however I do feel it prepares them for life later on in a large Secondary, there are more after school activities on offer and there is a greater mix of children with plenty of friendships to be made .