Greater Manchester

[3pickles]

Hi,

Really looking for some guidance on secondary schools in and around Manchester (in areas of the tram or frequent trains to the city centre).

We are relocating and my main priority is getting schools right for my children, secondary and primary aged.

I am looking for recommendations for non-selective secondary schools that have excellent pastoral systems that are caring yet have robust systems for dealing with behaviour and bullying. I find ofsted reports and schools websites are quite limited in getting a true reflection on a school and would love some personal recommendations!

Thank you ☺️

Fairfield is single sex, the others are co-ed. For boys, West Hill and Audenshaw as mentioned previously are both excellent but if you lived close enough to get into WH you wouldn’t get your girls into any of the other three.

Another option is Saddleworth School which is mixed and good - and Saddleworth itself has beautiful places to live if you want something a bit more rural, eg Dobcross or Uppermill.

Catchment areas are irrelevant if you’re applying in year. How old are your DC?

Definitely a good call out! Altrincham could be completely out of budget!

Re: Altrincham, secondary schools are very much in demand but it’s worth finding out if BTH (Blessed Thomas Halford). Had a friend whose non Catholic son was allocated there after getting non of their preferences. It’s a very large school but she said it was excellent for pastoral care, which is something that you mentioned you wanted. Great facilities too.

In theory, on the off chance you could get your son in there, you’ll also find spaces in some Alti primaries. Contrary to belief, their are spaces these primaries, due to cost of living in the area.

Sorry just seen your DC are Y7, 2 and Rec. so they’d all be in year applications. That’s very tricky! However, catchment areas won’t be an issue until the younger children are in Y5 for secondary school applications, when catchment WILL apply.
I would look at Prestwich / Heaton Park / Whitefield in terms of transport into Manchester. Then contact Bury Council to determine which schools have places. This is a dynamic figure though. There may be places now, but not when you move and vice versa.

Well my ideal would be a 4 bed (or a 3 bed that could be extended or extra rooms that could be converted), budget is £450-650k.

Haven’t rented for nearly 20 years so I have absolutely no idea how much this costs, but would consider it temporarily if it made the move easier. Having said that my preference is get the children settled into one place if possible.

Thank you. Will add all of these to the list! ☺️

I haven’t considered being further out as I was concerned about public transport, but an earlier poster mentioned that the Stockport line is really reliable. Do you know if this is the same for the line out to Saddleworth?

True, although would like to be in catchments for decent secondaries for when my daughters are ready for secondary.

They are currently 12 (Yr 7), 6 (Yr 2) and 5 (Reception).

Is this a non-selective school? Pastoral care is a huge thing for me definitely.

Yes completely appreciate that thank you.

Agree with @Soontobe60 ! You'd get a great four bedroom easily with your money in those areas too!

Forget any notion of Didsbury or surrounding close areas.

@3pickles with a budget of £450-650k for a 4 bed I’d defo spend a bit of time looking what you’d get for that. You’d get something in Didsbury but might find it’s a busy road, no parking etc. Probably more options in Chorlton / Whalley range and some parts of the Heatons. North & East Manchester generally cheaper.
Theres decent options available I’m sure West side in Salford

Thank you.

what is Whaley range like nowadays? About 15-20 years ago my cousin lived in and around Manchester and one place she lived in Whalley Range was lovely, but at night the park opposite was full with some really unsavoury going’s on. I remember taking her children to play there one day and there were needles everywhere.

It’s gone upwards as other areas priced people out I’d say. I know loads of people who live there very happily but it’s always horses for courses. The kids are at Chorlton / Chorlton South. It’s not suburbia in the same way other areas are

I have had two kids through CHS. There are challenging kids as there are anywhere, but it's no worse and a lot better than many other settings. My child currently there is in higher sets and encounters no - or only very minor- disruption problems.

Friends with children at William Hulme, The Barlow, Parrswood and Didsbury High have similar stories. You can't get a comprehensive secondary school where no one is challenging.

Thank you for sharing that. And completely agree and also course of life to come across and work with people from all walks of life. For me, it’s how effective the school is at managing that and supporting all children as they require it.

reassuring to hear first hand about all the aforementioned schools.

Unfortunately Didsbury, Chorlton, Whalley Range, Altrincham & similar areas to the south of Manchester are likely to be out of your budget unless you are looking at houses on busy roads, houses near ongoing very large building projects (there are a lot of these in Chorlton for example and there are going to be more on the way), or you are willing to squeeze into a small 3-bed terrace with tiny courtyard garden. You would get more for your money north of Manchester for sure.

You can get a 4 bed within that price range in Chorlton. This for example

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161117360?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I think prices have dropped or at least stopped rocketing

You can also get a four bedder at the top end of that price range in Heaton Mersey (half way between Stockport town centre and Didsbury);

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171323426#/?channel=RES_BUY

BTH is non selective. With the budget you have you won’t get much in Altrincham. Look at Timperley (cheap part of Alti) and you’re more likely to get something.

Urmston area is in that price range. You will find much more for your money Bury way.

Your younger children would most likely get sibling priority so once your eldest child gets an in year place they’re pretty much guaranteed a sibling place. Worth checking admission criteria though.

Didsbury Road is pretty much gridlocked in rush hour and tram/train aren’t really walkable from there. That’s reflected in the price.

My sister commutes into Manchester City centre every day from Cheadle Hulme on the train. I really like going to visit her recently as there’s quite a few nice pubs and bars there. She’s childless so not sure about schools but having a nosey online they look good. I think you’d be able to get a 4 bed within budget

Sure, it's not great in that respect. I would jump on the 197 bus from Heaton Moor Road to Levenshulme and get the train to town from there or you could walk to Stockport and get the train there.