Malton secondary or Ryedale secondary

[Motherland88]

Hi all, this is my first time posting on mumsnet, I got directed here from a friend as my husband has got a new job in York and we need to relocate within an hours commute really. We have heard really good things about Malton, surrounding villages and up towards Helmsley/Kirbymoorside area. I was just wondering if anyone lives in that area or has any views on where is best to look, and mainly what the two secondary schools are like. My oldest will be starting secondary in a couple of years so want to make a decision on which school may be best for him before we move.

School-wise just somewhere friendly, good at managing any bullying issues, decent grades and stretches pupils but not purely focused on results. Mainly just friendly where he can make a good network.

House wise we just want a detached property with the biggest garden we can get. Thats our only criteria really. Budget is 400-600.

Thanks :-)

Just a gentle bump, any views on the area above would be welcome even if its not about schools.

I know of Malton school in a roundabout way and it's a very forward-thinking place in terms of education with an innovative curriculum but I don't know much about the pastoral stuff. But if that's approached the same as the teaching side of things then I'd be seriously considering it if it were nearer!

Maybe post in a different section like chat, that might get more traffic

Have a look at either Huntington or Manor schools in York. I rate these much more than either Ryedale or Malton (I don't want to give too much away but I am very aware of the pros and cons of the York and surrounding area secondaries as part of my job). Results wise Fulford is the best but it is often described as an exam factory and you suggest that you don't want that type of school.

Thanks for the replies, really helpful. Lycopodium8 would it be ok if I pm’d you? We were seriously considering malton or rydale and would really appreciate any knowledge of the schools as we are new to the area? Many thanks

A64 is a nightmare for hold ups on the Malton to York stretch and can add anything up to an extra 30 minutes on to journey times. Especially bad if you have to navigate the ring road as well.

Schools. Not looked for a couple of years but Malton is normally hugely over subscribed and the catchment gets smaller each year. School is quite spread out and is very sort of 'glossy'. They have outside charitable funding from a local Fitzwilliam trust. So get extras.

Ryedale, again normally over subscribed. Private mini buses do pickups from those out of council paid range. They've just expanded and got more classrooms so they might have more space. No 6th form. Bizarrely when I looked round they had no lockers so school bags where just heaped up outside classrooms.

Depending on where you live you could end up having to choose Norton college as your secondary, which wouldn't be great to be honest but that's the catchment school for villages to the east of Malton/Norton.

And you could very easily end up in some sort of magic triangle between Helmsley, Malton and Pickering and end up with lady Lumley's as your only real option which is/was in special measures and was recently moved into a Trust. There is the lady Lumley's Foundation which pays for extras for the School ( when it's not paying for legal fees to fight a misguided court case against Ofsted ) .

The are all much of a muchness really. There is basically no choice and where you live will decide which of the four local schools you end up with.

@Motherland88

Thanks for the replies, really helpful. Lycopodium8 would it be ok if I pm’d you? We were seriously considering malton or rydale and would really appreciate any knowledge of the schools as we are new to the area? Many thanks

Yes, of course.

Hi snakeRabbitMouse, sorry for the delay in replying, this week got a bit crazy! Thanks for your reply, we are now looking north of York area but still have Malton on our wish list because of the location which is absolutely perfect for us. I am a little concerned about the school though so info you or anyone else who has had a child go through the system there (or know of any that have) I would be really grateful to hear from. We have got some really good info about how the school is run, we just want to compare that with the childs experience of being there e.g friendliness, bullying, drugs, behaviour in lessons etc.

Thanks for your help

P.s thanks as well forestdweller, your post really helped me to consider the impact of location. It’s such a minefield! Thanks again

There is significant rural deprivation in the area.

Grotty commute in the winter weather unless next to main roads, the road is also accident heavy and regular closures.

Why not just buy in York itself?
For £600k you owed get a decent house still.

In most of North Yorkshire and York people just go to the local school and so they tend to be truly comprehensive.

Hi OP - apologies I don’t have much knowledge of schools, but wanted to echo what others said about what a great area malton and surrounds are. Without giving too much away, we’ve lived in both York and the Malton area and find our quality of life much better in the latter. Malton town centre has transformed unrecognisably in the last decade (I am loathe to credit the fitzwilliam estate, but they have done a good job at marketing malton as a real hub for food businesses in particular) to the point that now it has quite good array of small independent businesses. There’s also a wee cinema, and some nice pubs and bars. Although quite unreliable and expensive, it also has the benefit of a train station with quick access to York and towns/cities further west towards Manchester. You’re also close to the coast, moors and Howardian Hills for beautiful walks.

Surrounding villages are also lovely, with some fab village pubs and primary schools.

It’s not a bustling metropolis it’s fair to say, but with York and Leeds easily accessible for your city fix I think it’s a good base if you’re after a mix or town and country.

I saw on your other thread you were also considering Easingwold - if you’re looking north of York I also believe that Bedale High School is well regarded, but that may be out with your search radius.

Hi Lycopodium8, I have also PM'd you, as it seems like you know the Malton school area, so would appreciate your further advice!

Hope that's OK

Thanks,
Richard