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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Nottingham High School or Manchester Grammar School or Royal Grammar School Newcastle or King Edward's School Birmingham

94 replies

Lalagu · 05/02/2024 09:03

My kid has received offers from these four schools for Year 7 in the upcoming year. I am wondering which school he should choose. Do you have any insightful ideas? Thanks!

OP posts:
WindyDock · 05/02/2024 09:09

Surely in depends where you live since they are all extremely far apart.

Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 09:12

WindyDock · 05/02/2024 09:09

Surely in depends where you live since they are all extremely far apart.

I am right now living in HK and can freely choose any city to live in

OP posts:
NCfor24 · 05/02/2024 09:13

I'd research the cities and decide where you want to live and how freely you want to access other places.

Bs0u416d · 05/02/2024 09:19

I agree, I think where you want to live should be the principal concern. There will be little difference in the schools I'd imagine. I love in Nottingham if you have any questions relating to life here.

Yesnosorryplease · 05/02/2024 09:20

School is absolutely not the be all and end all.

You must have some preference for where you want to be located and what you want from your day to day lifestyle. These places are geographically very different and far apart.

Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 09:21

Bs0u416d · 05/02/2024 09:19

I agree, I think where you want to live should be the principal concern. There will be little difference in the schools I'd imagine. I love in Nottingham if you have any questions relating to life here.

cos i never visit any except London Bath and Oxford......so I really dont know much about Nottingham. Appreciate you can share your view on this city cos I know many HKers have moved to Nottingham under BNO visa in these years

OP posts:
Lifeinlists · 05/02/2024 09:30

You got lots of advice and info on your other thread when it was just KES and MGS. No one (I suspect) will have current experience of all four schools. Are there any more?

FWIW I know that one is excellent and I suspect the other three are pretty similar. It comes down to what sort of school will suit your child best and what sort of area you want to be based in. Your child can't possibly decide so you've got to select one and build your new life there. None of the schools will be perfect but they're all highly regarded as far as I know.

LIZS · 05/02/2024 09:34

All those cities are very different to Oxford or Bath, and each other. Maybe focus where you may know someone or have contacts. Did you use an agent? What was their advice?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 05/02/2024 09:38

Those are all different cities, with different characteristics. Newcastle is relatively small, but close to the sea. Manchester's and Birmingham are much bigger. There are all buzzy university towns.

If you can chose any city in the UK, wouldn't you be better looking at schools in cities that you know?

Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 09:59

Lifeinlists · 05/02/2024 09:30

You got lots of advice and info on your other thread when it was just KES and MGS. No one (I suspect) will have current experience of all four schools. Are there any more?

FWIW I know that one is excellent and I suspect the other three are pretty similar. It comes down to what sort of school will suit your child best and what sort of area you want to be based in. Your child can't possibly decide so you've got to select one and build your new life there. None of the schools will be perfect but they're all highly regarded as far as I know.

which one is the best in your experience? appreciated

OP posts:
Lifeinlists · 05/02/2024 10:35

I only know KES (well) and it's an excellent school but I don't know the other three personally at all.

I think you need to concentrate on where you want to be, especially as it will be such a big change for you. All those schools will serve your son well, I'm sure, so don't be too distracted about which is the best.

SwanHK · 05/02/2024 10:42

It is all about Manchester vs Birmingham vs Nottingham vs New Castle.

As a BNO visa HKers, I will rule out New Castle (a bit isolated from other places), Nottingham has a cheaper house price vs Birmingham and Manchester, but I don't think you concern it too much. I will only focus in MSG and KEH, = choosing between Man vs Birm and also choosing between AL vs IB

Talipesmum · 05/02/2024 10:44

Nobody is going to be able to say which of these schools is “the best” - people don’t have experience of all of them, and pretty much nobody else will have been trying to choose between them like this as people tend to choose between the options nearish to them, or options focussed around one area where they want to move to.

Seems like they’re all great. Now start researching the areas themselves and see what might suit you as a family.

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 11:12

Hi @Lalagu I commented on your previous thread, as I'd gone to KEHS and my cousins went to MGS. I went to university in Nottingham and now live near Newcastle, and know a few kids who go to RGS. So I feel quite excited to be able to help you further in your decision.

It's already been said that Nottingham and Newcastle are smaller cities. Personally I wasn't a huge fan of Nottingham. It lacks the buzz of larger cities and just isn't really that exciting. I don't know much of Nottingham High School but I don't hear about it in the same way I do the other three.

Newcastle is a small city but it's a fantastic place to live. It can't fully compete with Birmingham for things to do, but there's lots going on there. Newcastle is also on the London-Edinburgh train line so you can get into London surprisingly quickly given the distance. It's also by far the best of all four cities for access to the countryside (assuming you have a car) so if you are interested in outdoor activities it's the place to be. Newcastle would be a real lifestyle change but I think you'd find it very welcoming up here. People from the North East are renowned for their friendliness. It's not as ethnically diverse however (Newcastle is approx 80% white, compared to around 65% for Nottingham, 55% for Manchester and 48% for Birmingham according to Wikipedia) and I haven't heard anything about HKers settling here. But there are people from all over (UK and non-UK) who make the North East their home. If you are prepared to integrate into a local community, Newcastle would be a great move. RGS is a highly regarded school with a good focus on extracurricular activities.

OldHK · 05/02/2024 11:22

My Father settled from HK in the 1950’s, I have experience of both Birmingham and Nottingham.

I don’t especially rate Nottingham High school a friends DS went there and he was very badly bullied and the school were rubbish at dealing with this. This is in the last 5 years.

I attended Birmingham University as a student and then settled in Nottingham. Nottingham is tiny compared to Birmingham.

What sort of budget do you have for housing? In the UK in every city the feel of neighbourhoods can be very different.

You are sending your DS to a selective school so the pupils will be more motivated but I will warn you English parenting is very different to Asian parenting. Very liberal here I am not hardcore or in to tiger parenting but was much stricter than any of DS white friends parents.

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 11:37

Hi again @Lalagu. I just read over your previous thread to try and learn more about you. You mentioned on that thread that your elderly mother was also coming over to live with you and that she needed public transport. I see that you are really prioritising your son's education and making that the key driver behind where you live in the UK. But what about your mother? Will she settle better if there is a local HK community?

Does your family have hobbies? What do you enjoy doing together?

Are you or your husband possibly able to find work in the UK before you arrive?

I agree with PPs that all schools are good schools, so I would focus very much on where you want to live as a family, plus where you can (or are most likely to find) work.

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 11:45

@Lalagu I just read this about Newcastle's China Town. With Birmingham and Newcastle as the two cities I have lived most in, I maybe took it for granted that UK cities have a China Town (ie a Chinese district). This is not correct! Only London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle have a China Town. I don't know if this might influence your decision?

newcastlechinatown.uk/index.php/en/

Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 11:48

SwanHK · 05/02/2024 10:42

It is all about Manchester vs Birmingham vs Nottingham vs New Castle.

As a BNO visa HKers, I will rule out New Castle (a bit isolated from other places), Nottingham has a cheaper house price vs Birmingham and Manchester, but I don't think you concern it too much. I will only focus in MSG and KEH, = choosing between Man vs Birm and also choosing between AL vs IB

u are expert

OP posts:
Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 12:06

OldHK · 05/02/2024 11:22

My Father settled from HK in the 1950’s, I have experience of both Birmingham and Nottingham.

I don’t especially rate Nottingham High school a friends DS went there and he was very badly bullied and the school were rubbish at dealing with this. This is in the last 5 years.

I attended Birmingham University as a student and then settled in Nottingham. Nottingham is tiny compared to Birmingham.

What sort of budget do you have for housing? In the UK in every city the feel of neighbourhoods can be very different.

You are sending your DS to a selective school so the pupils will be more motivated but I will warn you English parenting is very different to Asian parenting. Very liberal here I am not hardcore or in to tiger parenting but was much stricter than any of DS white friends parents.

i am impressive of your advice

OP posts:
Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 12:07

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 11:12

Hi @Lalagu I commented on your previous thread, as I'd gone to KEHS and my cousins went to MGS. I went to university in Nottingham and now live near Newcastle, and know a few kids who go to RGS. So I feel quite excited to be able to help you further in your decision.

It's already been said that Nottingham and Newcastle are smaller cities. Personally I wasn't a huge fan of Nottingham. It lacks the buzz of larger cities and just isn't really that exciting. I don't know much of Nottingham High School but I don't hear about it in the same way I do the other three.

Newcastle is a small city but it's a fantastic place to live. It can't fully compete with Birmingham for things to do, but there's lots going on there. Newcastle is also on the London-Edinburgh train line so you can get into London surprisingly quickly given the distance. It's also by far the best of all four cities for access to the countryside (assuming you have a car) so if you are interested in outdoor activities it's the place to be. Newcastle would be a real lifestyle change but I think you'd find it very welcoming up here. People from the North East are renowned for their friendliness. It's not as ethnically diverse however (Newcastle is approx 80% white, compared to around 65% for Nottingham, 55% for Manchester and 48% for Birmingham according to Wikipedia) and I haven't heard anything about HKers settling here. But there are people from all over (UK and non-UK) who make the North East their home. If you are prepared to integrate into a local community, Newcastle would be a great move. RGS is a highly regarded school with a good focus on extracurricular activities.

i worry about the cold weather of Newcastle for my elderly mother

OP posts:
Original poster
Lalagu · 05/02/2024 12:08

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 11:37

Hi again @Lalagu. I just read over your previous thread to try and learn more about you. You mentioned on that thread that your elderly mother was also coming over to live with you and that she needed public transport. I see that you are really prioritising your son's education and making that the key driver behind where you live in the UK. But what about your mother? Will she settle better if there is a local HK community?

Does your family have hobbies? What do you enjoy doing together?

Are you or your husband possibly able to find work in the UK before you arrive?

I agree with PPs that all schools are good schools, so I would focus very much on where you want to live as a family, plus where you can (or are most likely to find) work.

yes if there is a chinese community then it should be fantastic
i know both Man and Birmingham have china town

OP posts:
Clearinguptheclutter · 05/02/2024 12:13

I read and commented on your other thread

Again, nobody will have experience of all four schools as they are all miles away from each other. They’re all good schools I think you need to focus on which city is best for you as a HK family. With that in mind I’d rule out Nottingham and Newcastle. Birmingham and Manchester in particular have thriving HK communities where you’ll easily make HK friends (if that is important to you).

re weather it’s not that much different between all of them. Newcastle will be cooler but not significantly so.

cty · 05/02/2024 13:19

My two cents would be to look at 1) where you aim to live 2) which size of a school might fit your DS, ie big or smaller 3) co-ed or not.

Since you are moving from abroad, you need time to adjust. Finding a community of Hong Kong people might help you settle down more quickly. I heard that Manchester and Brum have a lot of Hong Kong people. And they are bigger cities. School wise all these names are very reputable. If your DS is outgoing then perhaps a bigger school would not be as problematic. If he is introverted then perhaps the smaller KES. Ultimately it is not about which school is 'good'. This mentality is the wrong way to select schools. It is about the fit for your child. Thus I would ask around about culture and how the school is operated and then match up with your DS's personality.

StarboysMum · 05/02/2024 15:25

I wouldn't rule out Newcastle as suggested by @Clearinguptheclutter. There are properties in Jesmond within your budget (300-400k, if I remember correctly from your earlier thread). This could be a great location for you as RGS is within walking distance. So it could be a nicer lifestyle for your son than commuting across Birmingham like we were discussing before. Bigger isn't always better.

Regarding weather/climate, Manchester is the worst place in my opinion from your list as it gets the most rain. I think your mother will probably find it cold whether you move to Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham or Newcastle. It can be noticeably milder in London, and in the last few years London/SE England have had some heatwaves which haven't affected the North as badly - it's rarely been above 30°C where I live (which I think is a good thing).

You said on your other thread that you are coming to the UK to visit Birmingham. Can you visit the other cities and schools? I think that'll really help your decision.