Anyone out there really interested in looking at random schools who would like to look over a couple and give an opinion on what they would choose and why?

[Fridgeisbrokeagain]

I’m just looking for external perspectives on a few schools. I’ve had a look myself and will be going to open days to help make my mind up, however, I have a lot of local bias and everyone seems to think one thing or another about the schools. They’re either really for a school or really against it and I’m not seeing the same opinion forming in my mind. Therefore, if anyone is interested in having a look and providing a fresh perspective that would be welcomed.

Schools (in alphabetical order)

Cockermouth School
www.cockermouthschool.org

Keswick School
www.keswick.cumbria.sch.uk

Netherhall School
www.netherhall.cumbria.sch.uk

West lakes Academy
www.westlakesacademy.org.uk

Whitehaven Academy
www.whitehavenacademy.org.uk

Workington Academy
https://www.workingtonacademy.org

PS: This is completely optional thing for people to answer/look at only if they are really into this sort of thing and wouldn’t mind/would enjoy looking. It’s more of a stab in the dark thing for me, just in case. No pressure to look if you don’t want to.

I like the look of the last two. The others seem pretentious.

But my advice is go to as many open evenings as you can and get a feel for them. Pretentious might suit you as a family more than it does me.

What's the profile of the child?

Quite outgoing and adventurous (and loud!) Will get involved with anything and everything. Plays rugby, goes to cubs and wants to move up to scouts, likes being out with his friends, likes doing electronics with his dad (his dads a major electronics enthusiast and engineer), he’s recently taken an interest in playing piano (don’t know how long that will last but best friend started playing and so do I so there’s some influence there rather than definite/long term interest - time will tell).
Quite inquisitive. Wants to know everything. Constantly asking questions. Not too sure about ability, definitely not lower ability, but certainly middle to higher. Dyslexic and makes lots of silly mistakes in spelling/reading but can talk a good story and knows the correct answers/facts of answering verbally.

@JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam thank you, can I ask what makes you say they are pretentious/what specifically you looked at to form that opinion? (I’m not very good at reading into things/I miss things like that - I’m possibly where DS gets his dyslexia from)

Keswick, hands down.

Seems more academic, definitely has an articulate and intelligent principal, which is reflected in the website. There doesn't seem to be any pandering to sentimentality or patronizing of future parents.

Have you thought about adding https://thelakesschool.com/the-lakes-school-cumbria/contact-us/
to your list?

Knowing the area (I don’t live there and know little about the schools) I would say whichever one is easiest to get to! Sorry, but know that’s not what you asked but I know children around there doing what I would consider ridiculous journeys when there is a perfectly decent comp on their doorstep.

They are not near to each other

Where do you actually live. Start there are move out. Local friends and a local social life are invaluable part of secondary education.

Being nearish the area I'd definitely look at Keswick. Also, don't forget you've got Energy Coast UTC from Yr 10 (with a small Yr 9 intake).

Absolutely completely impossible to get to on a daily basis unfortunately.

The ones on the list are the only ones which it’s possible to get to.

Nowhere is near each other here. It’s an absolute PITA. I know kids that go to all of these schools and the primary will feed all of them. All are possible to get to daily using walking, public bus or dedicated school bus and maximum 50 minutes door to door.
Likelihood is DS will have friends go to all of these and kids near us definitely go to all of these. I agree about social life and I do have one school in mind that I think I prefer based on these factors. But we have to choose 3 for the list so we do have to look further afield and figure out the rest.

Knowing the area well and with friends still in the area with kids at the schools, I would either go for Cockermouth or Keswick. Cockermouth has a good reading recovery scheme and historically good with sen support (you mention dyslexia). Keswick is smaller, but has always been strong academically and sports.

The joy of remote living that people don't realise, lots of children travel from Workington to Keswick and nothing has changed in the last 40 years a distance many would have 30 schools that are in that distance.

At one point, about 10 years ago, and also more recently, Netherhall and Whitehaven were inadequate. Workington academies 2 predecessors schools - Southfield and Stainburn - were also inadequate, and West Lakes 2 predecessor schools - Ehenside and Wyndham - were equally as inadequate. There are 2 schools the op hasn’t mentioned, St Benedict’s, which was inadequate and St Joseph’s which because of all the inadequate schools, you had to be catholic to get into. This left only Cockermouth and keswick as the only 2 viable options in a 30 mile radius, hence, everyone thought the long journeys were worth it. Some of the schools mentioned were beyond inadequate, we’re talking special measures, several academy sponsors, years of consistent inadequacy 2 generations going through the school and the inadequate rating hadn’t shifted. It’s only recently in the last 3-5ish years this has changed so the legacy of Cockermouth and Keswick journeys remains until the trust in local schools returns. Will take a while to break down the negative opinions people have about the wests schools. And I can’t blame people. The schools really were bad.

I’m local to the area @Fridgeisbrokeagain so not going to be able to properly answer your question without bias unfortunately. I have kids in Keswick. I considered cockermouth. I didn’t look at Netherhall, I can’t remember why, or West lakes. Unless youre close you won’t get West lakes anyways and they’ve had a couple of problems recently, which I am convinced are safeguarding, which would put me off. Plus ofsted wants to downgrade them from what I’ve heard. I would now consider Whitehaven. I wouldn’t consider Workington firstly because of previously mentioned biases and because I know a couple of kids who don’t like it there who have recently started - but that’s a small number so it might be alright.