Potentially moving to Lancaster area - schools

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

Hi all,

Name changed to avoid linking my location to my usual name! Also because this move has not yet been revealed to the DC!

Due to a change in my husband's work we are potentially looking at moving to Lancaster. My eldest 2 are in the middle of exam years (Year 11 and Year 13) so if we move it won't be until next September so as to avoid disruption.

My eldest will be finished I feel so old so I will have 3 in secondary - DD2 will be going into Year 12, DD3 into Year 10 and DD4 into Year 7.

Currently my eldest 3 are at a coed independent, and my youngest is at the prep linked to it. I'm happy to look at state or private, girls school or coed. The school itself is what is important.

DD2 is very sporty, loves PE, very quiet and shy. The move will be daunting for her even though she is the eldest. She finds academics more difficult than her sisters, particularly the mathematical and science based subjects. She's hoping to do A levels and dependent on GCSE results, her choices are Psychology, Sociology, Art, PE, Dance, English or French.

DD3 is a social butterfly who struggles to concentrate but is bright when she knuckles down. She's quite easily led and benefits from 'nice' friends to keep her on the straight and narrow! She's chosen her GCSEs and has picked French, Latin, Geography and Art in addition to the usual English/Maths/Science.

DD4 will be moving up to secondary but is a chirpy, confident wee soul. She's very into her arts - ballet, painting and drawing, music etc. I would imagine that she will settle reasonably easily and is one of those kids that just gets on with it.

Ideally I'd like all 3 to stay together. I don't think DD2 would manage a 'college' set up and would prefer a sixth form in a school.

I'd like it to be somewhere supportive, with good academics, good sports reputation and quite a strict ethos. We are catholic so happy for that emphasis, but it is not essential.

Any suggestions? I've had a look on the web and Lancaster girls sounds lovely. Casterton is a possibility. Alternatively I work in Manchester so that is an option too.

Bugger. Name change failed. Oh well, que sera.

Re Lancaster For next September entry presumably you will have missed the dates for application process?, so you will have to contact the LEA for application details for late applicants.
As a result I don't know how your options will be affected?
The grammar is out I would have thought for your dd4 as you will have missed the 11+ dates.
There is a catholic school 'Our lady's' which is co-ed.
Ripley is also co-ed but C of E, has a good reputation but apparently very over subscribed.
Casterton is or has merged with Sedbergh I think, so I don't know how things are there now. There has been much hoo-ha over the merging.
Manchester would offer you more options for private if that's the way you want to go?

I don't know much about the schools that far north but I know Clitheroe and Lancaster have good reputations. Further towards Manchester then Bolton School could be good especially for the older one as it has mixed 6th form facilities with single sex classes.
Far more choice in the Manchester area but there are some very academically selective schools like Withington.