Secondaries in Norwich, Hethersett and Wymondham

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I'm looking at taking a new job in the Norwich (UEA area). I have 3 DC, currently in Yr5, 3 and 1. We'd need to relocate for the job. I am thinking of going up one day soon and trying to visit some schools, so would ideally like to have an idea of where to visit from recommendations rather than just Google.

My DC1 has autism (HFA). Are there any schools in the area that have a good reputation for SEN provision?

DC2 is gifted and talented, and would benefit from being at an accademic school. Could be a different school from DC1.

DC3 is only 5, so it's a bit early to be worrying about secondaries :)

Any personal experiences welcome, or recommendations. Im primarily thinking of state schools, but private is an option.

Generally (not wrt SEN): Local reputations spin straight off their league table positions which you can see yourself. Wymondham gets best results in the county, treated like Mecca, very hard to get into. You could move to Wym this year & find you're sending your kids to far away primary schools & having to appeal for closer places.

Hethersett Academy is part of Inspiration Trust. Mixed reputation.

Norwich state high schools: Thorpe & Sprowston have best reputation. Rest not so well-liked. Some of the state primaries have high reputations, but the HTs will tell you it's the type of family/parent in the catchment as much as anything that leads to their high results.

Long Stratton HS is well-regarded, afaik.

You could try asking on local facebook pages, is my best suggestion. Oh, and ask around your prospective colleagues on the NRP. Talk to the secretaries!

Wymondham has 3 good primary schools to choose from - might be a good plan to see where has places for children in all 3 year groups you need. Lots of norwich primaries are full.

Wymondham High is then v good.

Hethersett high gets good results but inspiration trust (academy chain) are not liked.

Norwich - city of norwich school is good. Thorpe st Andrew too. I didn't think Sprowston was really anymore. Hellsedon high has a v good reputation.

There are places in wymondham primaries, didn't make that very clear in my post!

Thanks all. I’ve seen that there’s Wynondham High and Wymondham College that both seem goon from what you can see online. I plan to go visit both.

And personal views on the schools?

Unfortunately I’d be joining a very small company, so I think I’ll be the only one with school aged children.

Thanks for the advice re primaries. I’ll see which, if any, have spaces in the correct years.

Wymondham college is near impossible to get in to unless you want to pay for your children to board these days. Both are more than good enough secondaries though. PM me if you have any questions. My DD is in year 3.

I would phone the primaries today to find out what places there currently are. When I did this they kind of threw hands up in horror. When I asked what could happen if we moved into area in July, CC basically said "What makes you think you have the right to move into the area and try to deprive someone else of a place?"

Someone I know living near airport said she got her DD into the high school, though (information conveyed with great smugness about the superior school place). MNers always say there are lots of places at the primaries.

I heard good things about Norwich School handling a child with dyslexia quite well.