The Simple Guide To Schools In Stoke-On-Trent
Moving to a new area can be stressful at the best of times because there’s so much to think about when relocating, especially if you’ve got kids. They’re likely to be worried about fitting in and making new friends, so it’s important to choose a school where they’ll be happy and receive the best education for them.
That’s why we’ve decided to put together a simple guide on some of the local schools in Stoke-on-Trent and give you some options going forward.
Primary Schools
When it comes to primary schools, Stoke-on-Trent has a lot to offer. The city features a range of different school options, with over 30 to choose from.
Some of these options include fantastic schools such as Sandford Hill Primary, Ash Green Primary, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Academy, Smallthorne Primary and Eaton Park Academy. All of these schools ranked well after a visit from Ofsted, the education watchdog. If you were looking for schools more towards Leek, you have places like St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Woodcroft First School and All Saints’ First School.
These primary schools will teach children from Reception (ages 4 to 5) all the way until Year 6 (ages 10 to 11). They have a strong focus on encouraging children and allowing them to develop their skills. The schools cover the basic curriculum (Reading, Writing, English, Maths, Science, etc.), as well as subjects such as Music, Arts & Craft, History, Geography, Information Technology and Physical Education. By including such a variety of subjects, it allows children to experience different things and get interested in certain subjects. They also introduce homework into the curriculum, getting the children used to doing it at a young age and preparing them for coursework later down the line.
Schools will often prepare fun incentives for kids such as class trips, visitors to school and more. By giving the kids the chance to go on class trips, it gives them something to look forward to and will help them to do work. Class trips can often include swimming and trips to outdoor education centres.
The schools previously mentioned have all received good reviews, ensuring good education for your child where they will be respected and taken care of. They aim to provide kids with a useful set of skills that will help them through High School and beyond and provide an encouraging learning environment.
As some of these schools are highly sought after, it’s always wise to try and get in as early as possible as there tends to be children put on the waiting list due to the high amount of applicants. When it comes to SAT results, some of these schools have been known to achieve up to 60% of kids reaching the national in reading, writing and maths.
Secondary Schools
Stoke-on-Trent has a lot of highly recommended secondary schools to choose from, with most kids getting into their first choice. Some of the secondary schools include Trentham High School, St Haywood Academy, St Joseph’s College and Excel Academy.
Most of these schools have an excellent pass rate at GCSE level, achieving 60%+ of students gaining A* – C in their Maths and English, with St Joseph’s College achieving as high as 94% of students.
Secondary schools (also known as High Schools), take your child from Year 7 (aged 11) to Year 11 (aged 16), with some schools giving the option of staying on for Years 12 and 13 as part of their Sixth Form. Over the course of 5 years, students will cover core subjects (such as English, Maths, Science, etc.) as well as creative ones (Music, Art, Drama, etc.) for Years 7 – 9. They are then given a choice of what classes to take for their GCSEs, which they will study and sit exams for in Years 10 and 11.
It might be tough for your kids to move from the small primary school to the daunting secondary school, it’s a worry that most parents face. But no need to worry, as the teachers in these schools along with friendly students can provide support and help make your child feel welcome. Being in such a supportive and encouraging environment can contribute to students thriving and achieving the best results possible.
Like primary schools, there are often incentives such as class trips and options for after school activities. Most secondary schools also offer the chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. The ‘D of E’ scheme includes taking part in physical activities, volunteering and providing the children with important life skills. The Duke of Edinburgh Award presented at the end of the scheme will look great on your child’s CV, so it’s definitely worth considering.
Colleges & Sixth Form
As far as further education goes, the first thought is the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College. The Sixth Form College focuses on A Levels and BTECs, offering a variety of courses and providing a state of the art facility for learning and developing these skills.
The Sixth Form College caters to 16 – 18 year olds after leaving High School and is a great next step for students wanting to continue their education. Here you can find the perfect course to fit what you want to do as a career, and they will help require the skills and qualifications needed to go on to University.
If you’re looking to carry on your education even further but don’t want to move too far away, then an obvious choice is Staffordshire University, located in the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The University offers a range of different courses and options, including part-time studies, postgraduate study and fast-track degrees. Some of these courses include Art and Design, Business and Economics, Psychology, Music and Sound and Journalism. You can find more information on other courses and how to apply on their website.
Summary
These are just a few of the excellent schools located in Stoke-on-Trent, take a look for yourself and find the perfect choice for your children.
If you want to look further into it, you can find more information on specific schools on their websites. You can find more numbers and information on popular secondary schools in Stoke-on-Trent through this link here and primary schools here.