Does anyone live in or near Stone, Staffordshire

[Libby16]

Hi everyone

We live in Cornwall and have done all our lives but my husband may be getting a new job in Warwickshire.

We have visited Stone in Staffordshire a few times and it’s only an hour drive from where my husband would be working, which is fine. The house prices in Stone are really reasonable and we like the area but we have a 6 and 8 year old and have been looking at schools and I’m a bit confused!

There seems to be a lot of first schools and middles schools? I’ve not come across this before, my daughter would be going in to year 2 in September and my son year 4, I would like them to be in the same school. I can I only seem to find one primary(St Dominic’s) that goes reception to yr6 but it looks very religious...which we are not.

I will also have to apply mid year as we need to sell our house and find a new house, my husband finds out in July if he has the job so that wouldn’t give us enough time to apply for September.

Generally down here in Cornwall they go to primary school in reception and stay there till year 6, and then on to Secondary.

Can anybody tell me how the schools here work or any schools to avoid? Are they oversubscribed?

Thanks!

if the commute from Malvern in Worcestershire would be any better
No idea. Can you be a bit more specific than just a vague "Warwickshire".

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I’m from round those parts. And visit Cannock before you do anything....

Hello ComeBack - we're going to have to be careful here - or everyone will be let into the secret that's Cannock - great location, good value housing and lovely people

As a staffordian Cannock has some great asserts including Cannock chase - and a great accent which you either love or hate depending where the listener is from.

Stone is a lovely town but agreed I wouldn't want to commute but it's your husbands decision.

In Malvern - used to travel to Stone. Horrendous - the Worcester ring road followed by M5 and then M6 is a no go.

I was brought up there but too many years ago to be helpful!

And I went to St Dominic's! (Am 70 now )

I went to st Dominic's too.

I live close to there and DH spent a few years working on Coventry. From experience I'm telling you, do not do it.

That particular commute is awful. Once the M6 stops that is it. Some nights he left the office at 5.30 and didn't walk through the door until 9pm. It was a hideous time that frankly made him ill.

Stone is a beautiful town, but frankly you'd be mad to commute from there.

Thanks for everyones advice, it’s good to get local knowledge as we have no family up that way. From the sounds of it I think we will re think Stone, opt for somewhere in Warwickshire, just got to find the right place!

It looks like you'll be starting a thread about where to live in Warwickshire OP - or persuading your DH to get a job nearer to Stone 😀
Leamington Spa is nice Hinckley Nuneaton etc too

Hi Libby-brilliant Stone is a great place to bring the children... Really friendly and has lots of kids clubs, activities and a great life in the small town.....lots of festivals food, etc.
I commute all over the place from here and as usual it just depends on the time you leave the house - early in the morni g or using the toll road (and obvs) the stopping train direct to Birmingham etc.... Warwick isnt so bad.... And I'm sure you know how to plan routes all on your own.
Stone choice of schools depends where you'd live as the town has developed in a sort of triangle.... So St Michael's first school serves the South... And the centre and North is served by Christchurch.... And the Catholic school St Doms (which wears red jumpers and is free as opposed to the St Doms private school across the road who wear blue) There are then two main midldle schools one on either side of the A34... Christchurch Middle school has same leadership team as the first school and is close the towns high school....
If you live closer to the christ hurch schools that gives you a logical pick up drop off routine with great teachers.... but I'm sure all the schools are great. St Doms red jumpers school is good but it doesn't mind splitting families up... Taking non denom children in years when it wants to fill its roll but then not taking tbeir siblings if are in a year group where they could be oversubscribed.... Just a risk.
Middle school is unusual but when you get your head round it it does have benefits..
Anyway good luck (sorry the other schools are Pirehill and Walton middle school)

Thanks for all that info FionaT65, my husband won’t actually be traveling in rush hour, he will probably be leaving around 5.30 am and travelling home after 7pm so I’m thinking the traffic wouldn’t be as bad, but again I don’t live around there so not sure. Thanks for all the info on schools, that’s really helpful!

I meant to say 4.30, not 5.30. I know the m6 would still be very busy but maybe less busy at those times.

M6 southbound is becoming "smart" and so right now it has a rolling 50mph so annoying but one day it will be over.Traffic builds up from 7.30am around Birmingham but he would be well clear of that in any case. I can get to Warwick uni in an hour and ten mins pre rush hour... A friends husband does daily commute to Warwick - always has...his kids have go e through whole school system.... And on unusual days if he leaves early or somethi g and wants to be sure - he can just review traffic on satnav and treat himself to the Toll Road... Simples!

Hi all.
I will be relocating next year for work in Stafford and would appreciate any advice in which areas may suit. I can work for home a few days a week and commute on others, so where really isn't a worry. I don't need to worry about schools thankfully! Would like somewhere with a thriving town as where I'm moving from in Herts has excellent facilities.
Any recommendations and ideas much appreciated.

Hi,
we are relocating from wales to Staffordshire.
my Husband got job in hospital in stoke.
got 3 kids , 2 of them will go to secondary school and one in primary.
on internet and as people says repo of stoke is not what I would want to live in.
please if someone guide some nice places to relocate with good schools and child clubs options as my kids are quite interested in sports.
also nice friendly community.

Keele, Madeley, Barlaston, Endon & Leek all fir your criteria.