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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Moving to Didsbury, Secondary schools?

12 replies

superwhy4 · 29/09/2010 01:37

Hi I'm moving to Didsbury and have 3 children, they are due to go to St.Catherines Rc primary which looks a lovely friendly school. My eldest daughter is in Y6 and we are looking at the secondary schools for her. Would really appreciate any info on The Barlow or other schools that she would be able to get into. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
superwhy4 · 29/09/2010 09:07

PS never used mumsnet before, I saw the program on education the other night. So as you all can see from my earlier post had a panic attack about schooling at 1am, trawling the net again trying to find something more than the school website and then I remembered the program and mumsnet. Now I'm addicted been looking through loads of stuff and some really good advice.
Hopefully one of you ladies will know something, I have to apply to secondary school in 2 weeks...... these adult decisions are all suddenly a bit daunting!!

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ZZMum · 29/09/2010 09:35

I live in Didsbury and am going through the process of choosing a school for my year 6 boy!

The Barlow has a very good rep - I am not RC so do not intend to send my boy there - if RC is important, St Bedes (private) is excellent - I was impressed by it, even as a non beleiver!

I am looking at Stretford and Sales Grammar but I am also quite relaxed about the 2 comps as I know kids there - and they are thriving .. drop me a note if you have more specific questions!

1234ThumbWar · 29/09/2010 09:39

I have friends in Didsbury who's girls go to Sale Grammar I know they were anxious as they didn't feel that the local high schools were up to much. You'll need to contact the grammar schools now and arrange for your dd to sit the exam. I think they've already done the exams, but I know from experience that Sale often have another exam day in Nov/Dec.

Original poster
superwhy4 · 29/09/2010 11:04

Thanks ever so much for responding, both good information, delighted at the good rep bit about The Barlow....
funnily enough whilst trawling in the early hours, i looked at Sale Grammar and saw entrance had passed by. So will look into next exam date. Kinda wanted the kids to go to a school near home, is Sale Grammar far from Didsbury? and do alot of kids go from there?
It's hard as I have 3 kids of mixed ability, the eldest would do great in a Grammar but the middle would stuggle...

OP posts:
ZZMum · 29/09/2010 11:19

sale is about 4 miles away from Didsbury - they do put on a bus .. a few kids from Didsbury go there but the overwhelming majority are at Parrswood or Chorlton... these schools are large but streamed to cope with varying abilities and do it well ... are you up in Didsbury yet as Chorlton open evening is tonight so you could check it out and Parrswood is next week.

thirtysomething · 29/09/2010 14:17

are you looking at state or also private?

I grew up near there and went to a selective private school that I imagine will have its entrance exam in January.

In those days parrswood and Chorlton were really, really rough schools with lots of probs but I'm guessing they must have been turned around a lot from what ZZmum says! The RC schools were definitely preferable in those days from a behaviour/academic perspective....

ZZMum · 29/09/2010 22:18

I went to Chorlton tonight and have to say I was impressed- it is a brand new school and facilities were excellent - very good science and ICT labs.. a large theatre and huge library. I was shown round by kids from all years and I was surprised at just how polite and confident they were - all spoke highly of school.

Teachers were very good and had all set up their classrooms to be very interactive and interesting for the kids - far better presentations than the other private and grammar schools I have been to.. and in the French room they served red wine and brie - whats not to like!

Do PM me if you need more info

admission · 29/09/2010 22:30

I have been in Parrs Wood recently. The school is newish (4 /5 years old) and despite having something like 1800 pupils, the discipline was good whilst i was there. Head is very charasmatic and pupils jumped when he shouted!

I have no idea what the standards are like but I would say that Parrs Wood is certainly worth a look based on what I saw.

Original poster
superwhy4 · 29/09/2010 23:28

all good info..I went to didsbury today for a couple of hours and canvassed local people about the Barlow... general feedback was good, not outstanding or a great school but good and improving...so felt alot better. Chorlton sounded good, I will look into it. Ta

ParrsWood I did look at..was put off by the huge numbers, but like you say if it has good standards then worth a look

OP posts:
Original poster
superwhy4 · 30/09/2010 20:50

Thanks to all, I gave notice to school today and we all set to go....they start in November. so done. Needed to hear from others which helped and on the street, last minute panic...

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Lucycat · 30/09/2010 21:00

I live a couple of miles away but in a different local authority. I'd agree that Barlow's reputation is on the up. Parrswood were in special measures a couple of years ago (and their uniform is dire)yet they are still one of the most popular schools in the area and have one of these 'superheads' iirc it's the same chap who is in chareg at Chorlton - could be wrong though.

Have you checked out their Open Evenings? It's the 'season' round here so they will all be open in the next couple of weeks.
My eldesst dd is also in Yr6 - scary times Smile

PlaySchool · 20/01/2013 16:03

Just come across this old thread. Where did you send your children in the end? The Barlow is doing fantastically well these days.

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