On 11 Jun 2007 at 11:00am movingsouthsoon wrote:
Hi,
we're planning on moving to the Lewes area this summer - having read all the comments on areas, which were really useful, I wondered if anyone could give any advice on schools? I have 3 primary school age kids, and I've looked through endless ofsted reports, but they don't really tell you what you need to know e.g. is the school welcoming, supportive, is there a friendly community of local families, does the school do more than just tick the sats boxes etc. Any comments gratefully received!
On 11 Jun 2007 at 1:07pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
This topic has been mentioned quite a lot recently, I genuinely believe that most schools in Lewes are pretty good. Although I left a long time ago Wallands CP was a good school, nice area, large playing fields and friendly people.
Doubt it could of changed too much over time. As for other schools I had friends who went to Southover and Western Road and they have fairly good reps. If you look down at other threads you'll see one about Lewes New School, which some people were speaking highly of.
I doubt you can do too much wrong when picking a school in Lewes as there are plenty of good ones to chose from. Another positive is that the secondary school Lewes Priory is very good.
On 11 Jun 2007 at 2:09pm Smiler wrote:
Lewes New School is a fantastic school, focusing on developing the kids and their enthusiasm for learning rather than ticking the governments boxes.
The Summer fair is next month (7th I think) probably be a great opportunity to see what it, the kids and the parents are like.
The website is www.lewesnewschool.co.uk
On 11 Jun 2007 at 2:12pm Smiler wrote:
Otherwise in order of preference (and reputation)
Lewes New School
Wallands
Malling
St Pancras (Catholic)
Pells
Southover (C of E)
On 11 Jun 2007 at 3:58pm Living in the past and proud of it wrote:
Children should go to the school they live nearest to. They should be able to walk to school not be driven in a petrol guzzling metal monster that most Mum's drive these days. Why such huge vehicles are required for transporting people about 3-4ft tall is beyond me...
Life these days is bonkers...
On 11 Jun 2007 at 4:30pm JM wrote:
We moved into Lewes last year, both our children started at Western Rd (our nearest school). My little boy started mid term and was given buddies every day for a couple of weeks to help him settle in. He was also, after a couple weeks given a certificate in assembly for 'fitting in well at a new school'. A very nice touch with really helped him make the transition, he was 5 at the time. We also looked at Southover, but decided against a religeous school. It seemed to have a similar high standard.
Overall, very impressed with Western Rd, it feels like a proper community school and we have made a lot of friends by chatting to other parents who made a real effort to introduce themselves to us, knowing that we had just moved in. Our children really enjoy going to school and most weeks have other classmates round for dinner after school, or go to other classmates houses.
Another plus is having the Grange Gardens next door for an afterschool lolly and a bit of tree climbing......bliss
On 11 Jun 2007 at 7:44pm Smiler wrote:
I forgot Western Road in my list but I recken it should go just below Wallands
On 12 Jun 2007 at 11:52am The Super K wrote:
Wallands is and excellent school
On 12 Jun 2007 at 3:15pm Andy wrote:
Hope you didn't go there Super K...the above post isn't a very good advert for Wallands ;o)
On 12 Jun 2007 at 8:53pm The Super K wrote:
Yeah Sorry! Not Great. First time I've used a computer for 2 weeks though! just a minor typo!!!
I was there in the 80's and was taught very well, 2 cousins there at the mo. both very well educated.
Again Sorry
On 13 Jun 2007 at 1:30pm movingsouthsoon wrote:
Thanks very much for all these really helpful comments. Lewes New School is private though isn't it? Completely agree with 'living in the past..' which is why I'm trying to find a nice community school before trawling the estate agents! Next problem of course will be whether any of these schools have places .....
Thanks again to all.
On 13 Jun 2007 at 2:55pm ExiledfromLewes wrote:
If you look at Smilers above thread you will see the link to Lewes New School, in the website will be a page about finance and admissions and potential costs.
If you want a good comprehensive than being ex Wallands myself it is a school I'm most comfortable recommending and i'm sure your children would be happy there. At my time Wallands was the largest Primary school and most of the students came from Wallands Park, Landport and the Nevill.
The only detraction perhaps is that there is a lot of competition to move into the Wallands specifically for this reason. My parents say they get estate agents sending them brochures about the profits they (and the estate agents) can get if they sell the house. As for the Landport despite what some people say there are nice areas, most of the homes are privately owned and you will have wallands and Pells school close by. the only detraction is that the houses in the Landport now (friends tell me) can be above the national average so if you are a young family starting it can still be pretty steep.
Personally if I was starting again in Lewes I might consider near the Winterbourne, it's near both Western Road and Southover and you are also near one of my favourite places in Lewes the Grange Gardens, JM above paints a fair decription i feel.
On 14 Jun 2007 at 4:00pm Andy wrote:
There's very little mention of St Pancras on here. My daughter goes there and she loves it. It's a Catholic school but, like us, you don't have to be religious in any way although religious virtues are still taught there.
Nice and small, only about 150 pupils and a very nice, well run school
On 15 Jun 2007 at 10:50pm Digga wrote:
Hi. I was just wondering why no one has mentioned the Pells C of E school. It is an excellent small primary school with a little over a hundred children. There is also a lovely little nursery on site as well, so if you have toddlers, or are planning any more in the future it is also worth considering. The last OFSTED report was excellent, scoring highly in all area's.
On 16 Jun 2007 at 10:30pm Dougal wrote:
Absolutely agree with 'Living in the Past and Proud'. Just count myself lucky we live in Wallands catchment. Most teachers there are inspiring - my 3 have loved it - and my Priory source tells me Wallands kids come up with the best independent learning skills. Moreover the after school sports and other clubs are great thanks to parents putting in the time to help - and one in particular who would be embarrassed to be named,
'Go Lewes St Michaels Cricket!'
On 17 Jun 2007 at 1:24pm The Super K wrote:
I totally agree Living in the past, however the mums drive the hugh gas guzzlers cause if they crash in to something (or something crashes into them) the 4x4 are by far the safest for their kids.
On 18 Jun 2007 at 10:23pm Zigjim wrote:
Southover is the only school in Lewes that is oversubscribed. It's also a very "unreligious" religious school. But all the schools in Lewes are fine, you can't go wrong.
On 21 Jun 2007 at 11:37am movingsouthsoon wrote:
Thanks again for all these comments, which are really helpful.
On 14 Sep 2008 at 11:23pm Peter wrote:
To be honest all the schools are good - visited them all before deciding on Western Road - as not a church school and the nearest - and very happy with it. Western Road & Wallands are both not church and were both relaxed. Southover is strongly church and more discipline etc but very good as well. St Pancras and Pells were both small and seemed very well-behaved and happy schools when we went there - as did South Malling which is a bit bigger than those two. Kingston (just outside Lewes) was also very nice.
On 1 Mar 2009 at 10:34pm mary maz wrote:
What about private schools in Lewes? What is the grammar like and does anyone know the fees?