Newcastle relocation: choosing a secondary school

[Pumpkinsiesta]

Hey, not sure if this is the right topic, but looking for advice on moving schools pre GCSEs.

We are relocating to Newcastle, we have not decided where to live yet but it must be within 30mins of the RVI. I would prefer to not be in the city itself, maybe towards Hexham. Two kids are in junior school, and whilst I think they have their own complications, the secondary school is the one causing the most stress currently therefore the school will influence our choice.

Currently my eldest is at a state school with no uniform. She has ASD and this works really well for her. I realise that there will be no schools without a uniform, but are there any with a relaxed attitude to it? Her current school has already picked it's GCSEs - so she will already have dropped a lot of subjects (including languages) by next year. A school with a strong arts focus would be the dream. Or a strong link to the outdoors.

I would love any advice on moving during y9/at the start of y10 - I really don't have a clue where to start. Around here a lot of schools are over subscribed - is that the case in Newcastle?

Thank you!

yeah - I did a quick ofsted search and neither looked good

Yikes! That would be a no

I don't think either are great although my brother did his PGCE at Kenton and loved it and it didn't put him off teaching for life. Housing market wise I don't think it's as wild as other places (my in laws live down south so have some context) both my brother and my aunt have sold recently and whilst they both went to best and final offers after a few weeks it was like 2 offers no craxy bidding wars they were both fairly near asking price and one was in a very popular area. I'm Rightmove stalking a bigger house on our estate and it's just been reduced.. however having said that it is probably very local area dependent. Schools wise I would maybe look at Gateshead Northumberland and North Tyneside too might be a slightly better picture as generally they are less dense popular wise. Gateshead wise Whickham and Low fell would be a good shout and then Ryton/Blaydon up towards the Tyne valley

Avoid Benfield!!

I’m guessing that you or your partner are a medic who will be on-call to the RVI given the time constraints? If you are the medic have you tried to join PMGUKNE on Facebook?

My dc have happily gone through Longbenton High, just into North Tyneside. Both very different kids, eldest benefitted from pastoral support ++ and younger is v academic. Really can’t see how they could have been better helped. Eldest will now go to Gosforth Academy for Yr12.

DM me if you’d like further info.

Also I had another thought after posting yesterday UTC which is city centre is a y10 plus college that doesn't have a uniform and has a strong nd contingent a friend's son is going there soon I think it's more science than arty but might be worth a look in terms of GCSE onwards www.nef.tynecoast.academy/

Unfortunately (and I am genuinely sorry that you are facing this @Pumpkinsiesta) the chances would always be that schools with places would be the less popular ones tbh.

I think you need to find out which schools in the wider area have spaces and see whether the commute is possible (and if the schools appeal). If the distance or commute is not feasible, and you absolutely have to move there in the next 12 months, and you don't want to HE or go private, then you may have to make a difficult choice. It's easy for people to say "gosh don't send your child there" but there may not be many options.

I don't know those schools at all – but sometimes when you visit a school it feels a lot nicer than reports and general views suggest. A friend of mine teaches in a fairly low-rated secondary locally but in fact, when I have been there and from what she says, it has many positives. Not least in the case of her school that lower numbers mean a real family feel and good pastoral support.

ETA that UTC may well be worth a look though – since it starts in year 10 you have as much chance as anyone of getting a place.

There is also a low cost private school in Durham that our neighbours child goes to and she rates they run like a no frills model I've always been a bit dubious about it as I don't get how it works but she thinks it's been amazing for him and he has semh needs would be a treck from RVI but they have a bus network www.igsdurham.com/