Woodhey vs Haslingden - Ramsbottom school help!

[RubyBirdy]

Hi, I’m moving to the Ramsbottom area, but I am torn between Edenfield and Ramsbottom. Do all Rammy primaries lead to Woodhey? I believe this school doesn’t have a sixth form, so do all students then go to Bury College to do A levels? The primary education seems great with lots of ‘Good’ Ofsteds, but I’m hesitant about secondary. Can someone put my mind at ease?
I believe Edenfield C of E leads in to Haslingden High School, does anyone have any experience of this school too? On paper it looks like a bit of a better option, as it currently has a better Ofsted and a sixth form, but it could all change by the time my daughter is old enough to go anyway, I know. Some general advice would be much appreciated please!

Hi, I know this part of the world reasonably well, and from what I have seen the vast majority of children at Ramsbottom primaries move to Woodhey after year six. There are some who head to faith secondaries but they’re a bit further away - Bury CE High and St. Gabriel’s RC in Bury, or Canon Slade CE in Bolton. There’s a state grammar over the border into Lancashire, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar, and some do move there instead of the more local schools. Even though Ramsbottom and Edenfield are incredibly close to each other, there is a local authority boundary between the two which puts Ramsbottom in Bury and Edenfield in Lancashire. That’s probably why there’s such a clear line between Ramsbottom children going to Woodhey and Edenfield children going to Haslingden. Haslingden is very popular and has a good reputation, and as you say also has a Sixth Form - none of the schools in Bury local authority have a Sixth Form except Bury Grammar, which is independent. I think these days Haslingden has the stronger reputation out of the two, although Woodhey also remains popular.

Sorry, I realised that I didn’t answer your question about where the Ramsbottom children go to study A-Levels/post-16 courses. Usually the most academic ones go to Holy Cross College in Bury which offers mainly A-Levels. Bury College offers some A-Levels, but also lots of vocational courses. Some of the students don’t go to either as they may choose to apply to join a school with a Sixth Form such as Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar, Canon Slade CE or Haslingden High, or move into the independent sector as both Bury Grammar and Bolton School have Sixth Forms.

Thank you so much, this is so helpful. Do teenagers from Ramsbottom all go on to college to do their A Levels? Is Bury the nearest college that they would attend?

Sorry - cross posted! Thank you!! So, it’s not a problem really for options for A levels, despite the school having no sixth form. I assume there would be buses to the colleges in Bury.

Yes, there are frequent buses to Bury, and I think there are also school bus services from Ramsbottom to the schools in Lancashire/Bolton which have Sixth Forms.

That’s great, really appreciate the info. I originally definitely wanted to live in Edenfield, but I am somewhat concerned about the huge amount of houses they are planning to build on the west side of Market Street. I suppose they’ll have to extend the C of E, which isn’t ideal as it seems like a lovely little school.

Edenfield is such a lovely village, but I don’t know if the infrastructure is there to support such a large development. If there aren’t enough school places, they may end up increasing the number of children at the CE school, or it may be that more Edenfield children go to Stubbins Primary, which is only a short distance away, but on the other side of the motorway roundabout which would be a nightmare to cross on foot.

Yes, this is my concern. I am tempted by Shuttleworth as it’s inbetween Edenfield and Stubbins and hopefully I would then have the option of both and can see what happens with the village expansion. I don’t know if I could get her into Haslingden still if it’s just over the border though, and children normally go to Woodhey from there, despite them both being about two miles away? It’s so difficult wanting to make sure your child has good options.