The Simple Guide To Schools In Chester
As a child, moving to a new area can be a daunting prospect. Getting to know a new place, making new friends and settling into a brand new school are at the forefront of their mind, and they’re understandably worried.
Picking a new school can also be a challenging task for parents, with all the pressure to pick the right school. Fear not, as we are here to help.
Continuing with another entry in our school guides, we’ve put together a simple guide to some of the local schools in the Chester area.
Primary Schools
When it comes to primary schools, Chester doesn’t have a shortage. With over 20 schools to choose from, you’re almost spoilt for choice.
Some of these options include fantastic schools such as Belgrave Primary, Cherry Grove Primary, Oldfield Primary, Upton Heath C of E and Chester Blue Coat C of E. All of these listed schools achieved a good ranking from the education watchdog Ofsted, with Belgrave achieving an outstanding rating.
These Chester based schools take on children from Foundation/Reception (aged 4 to 5) to Year 6 (aged 10 to 11).
The curriculum covered in these primary schools are English, Maths, Science, History, Art and Design, Music, Computing, Design and Technology, French, Geography, Physical Education and Religious Studies. Covering a range of subjects gives the kids an idea of the subjects that will be covered in high school and gets them prepared from an early age.
A lot of these schools will also reward students by taking them on class trips or getting special visitors in. The use of incentives can help motivate the kids from a young age and makes the idea of school seem less daunting, adding a bit of fun to their early education years.
Some of these class trips can include swimming, science centres and even theatre performances. All scheduled school trips will likely need the parents’ permissions.
The schools previously mentioned have all received positive reviews, ensuring a quality education for your child and the peace of mind knowing that they will be in good hands. All of these schools have a positive can do attitude and focus on providing children with a useful set of skills going into high school.
As you can imagine, there are some highly sought after schools around Chester so it’s best to get in early as there could be a waiting list.
Secondary Schools
Chester has a great selection of highly recommended secondary schools to choose from.
Some of these schools include Christleton High, Upton By Chester High, The Bishops Blue Coat High and The Kings School. The majority of these schools have an excellent pass rate at GCSE level, with The Bishops Blue Coat High even getting a quarter of all their grades awarded an A* to A in 2017.
Secondary schools (also known as high schools) teach kids from Year 7 (aged 11) to Year 11 (aged 16), with a lot of places allowing kids to stay on in Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13) as an alternative to college.
High school curriculum covers the core subjects (English, Maths, Science, etc), as well as creative options (Music, Drama, Art, etc) during Years 7 to 9. After completing the first 3 years, pupils are given a choice of 3 subjects that they would like to take at GCSE level alongside the core subjects for the remaining 2 years.
Most of these subjects will have an exam at the end of Year 11 that will be required in order to obtain the GCSE certification.
The idea of moving from primary school to high school is a daunting prospect for most kids to say the least, but you can be assured that all of these mentioned schools have received positive reviews when it comes to accepting new students.
Similar to primary schools, high schools will often offer incentives such as trips away and days out to encourage the teenagers to work hard. They will also likely offer the chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. The ‘D of E’ scheme includes taking part in physical actives, volunteering and proving children with important skills.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award will make a great addition to any child’s CV, so it’s definitely an option to be considered.
Colleges
If your child decides that staying on at their high school’s Sixth Form is not for them, then they might want to consider attending a college instead.
The most notable college in the Chester area is West Cheshire College, with their Chester Campus located on Eaton Road in Handbridge.
They offer a wide range of courses from A Levels to Apprenticeships, and some of the subjects include Art, Business Studies, Government and Politics, Media Studies and Textiles. The college also has campuses in Crewe and Ellesmere Port, so travel may be required.
Universities
When it comes to further education, the obvious choice is the University of Chester, located on Parkgate Road.
The University of Chester is a very well known place of study and attracts students from across the entire of the UK each year. Offering a huge range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the Uni of Chester is an excellent choice for anyone not wanting to travel too far for their further education.
You can find courses like Computer Science, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Law, Mathematics and Engineering at the University of Chester. As you can see, they really do offer a variety of options.
University can be the stepping stone to a long lasting career in a field of work that you love, so it’s worth considering the extra years of education and hard work that is available.
Summary
These are just a couple of the many great schools and education options located in the Chester area. Take a look for yourself and find the perfect choice for your children.
If you want to learn more about specific schools’ curriculum or entry requirements, please visit their official websites.