secondary shools in Chester

[Geordieabroad]

We are moving to Chester from Norway for the next school year but will miss the school application deadline so we have to be realistic about our school options. Any advice about which are decent parts of the city to live in (we at least have some choice here) and which are the schools to avoid (I have one child primary age and one secondary)? We will only be there for a year so are not worried about high academic standards, we just want the girls to enjoy their year in Chester.

The issue will be where there are places available for both primary and secondary, rather than schools to avoid.
The thing you need to agree is whether you are going to live south of the river dee or north of it because transport around the area can be a problem at 0900 and 1530 as there are relatively few crossings. Then you can narrow your search down to schools in the right area. If you would prefer children to walk to school then I would suggest being north of the river.

Thank you, that's really helpful

Area to avoid are Blacon and The Lache. It’s near where I grew up but I don’t know best schools but do avoid those areas. Chester is a lovely city

Hoole is a very nice area. I don’t know about the schools there though.

Upton is lovely with a great high school, Bishops Blue Coat lovely too. I’d Avoid Queen’s Park high and Chester catholic high. Chester is beautiful you’ll have a lovely time there as a family. I work in admissions for a different authority and and would choose Queens if I could afford it!

We moved to Upton from Denmark and very much disliked the school. It's the polar opposite of Scandinavian education - so many pointless rules and the school was so big that the staff did not know the children. We left after a few months.

Chester is beautiful. My dd is at a small independent specialist school in Chester but she lives in Hoole and its lovely there. I think she knows people who went to Christleton.