Moving to Belfast -advice on schools?

mrsg26

Hi all

I currently live in glasgow and my DH wishes to return home to Belfast to live (he has lived here with me for 8 years). I have come round to the idea so the plan is to request a transfer through my work to a branch in Belfast and then look at houses to rent initially in east/south Belfast as that's where he is originally from. Now we have a 5 year old daughter who is doing exceptionally well at school here and I want that to continue at an equally good school however having little knowledge of the schools over there I'm not sure which places I should be looking to live in, as my choice is based solely on a very good school, and a not too bad commute into city centre if i happend to get reolacted there. Could anyone please offer me any advice?

Thanks in advance,

saverbuyer

Being from Glasgow you'll be familiar with sectarianism and perhaps how our education system operates over here in N.I.

It's sad but it could be difficult to answer the area question (based on the school) without asking the religion question first.

saverbuyer

Oh and just to add, our primary schools are some of the best in the world. With our primary maths and English top in Europe. So your daughter will fit right in.

rach13

Strandtown Primary in East Belfast is very good and acts as a feeder to a range of the Grammar schools. It is a large primary school and therefore they tend to have a sporty class, an artsy class...etc.etc so something for everyone. I personally went to a much smaller primary school where we were all put in together - sometimes the bigger schools can offer more in terms of trips away and sports clubs. Most of my friends went to Strandtown though.

There are a range of Prep schools around Belfast - although Prep school education isn't really needed IMO as there are good Primary schools out there that can give a bettter rounded education.

tara747

Where exactly do you want to move to, though?

Is your DH from south Belfast or east Belfast? Both are quite large.

Or is he from that upwardly-mobile place known as south-east Belfast (what people in Ravenhill/Cregagh call their area to make it sound posher?

NAR

Commute to city centre is only 2 to 3 miles, so not a big issue regarding location.

saverbuyer

What's the traffic like on the Ormeau now at school time?

lazer

saverbuyer wrote: »

Being from Glasgow you'll be familiar with sectarianism and perhaps how our education system operates over here in N.I.

It's sad but it could be difficult to answer the area question (based on the school) without asking the religion question first.

saverbuyer is right - we can't advise on schools and areas unless we know what religin - ie: Do you want your child to go to a catholic school, a protestant (or "state" school) or integrated?

warmhands.coldheart

tara747 wrote: »

....... Or is he from that upwardly-mobile place known as south-east Belfast (what people in Ravenhill/Cregagh call their area to make it sound posher?

Ravenhill is South Belfast I'll have you know. The white line in middle of Cregagh Road dictates the "Border" between East and South...... One wouldn't really want to go over to the east now, would one !!

warmhands.coldheart

As a Protestant married to someone from the "Dark Side" living in South-East Belfast (Tara !!) I personally think you will find the Catholic Schools do "perform" better than the state/controlled schools. I know quite a few teachers in both sectors and in general all support this argument...... I'm afraid the "Protestant Work Ethic" is exactly that, a work ethic, when it comes to Education I'm afraid the Catholics beat us hands down!! 9 of the top 10 schools, based on academic achievement, in Northern Ireland are Catholic Schools...

Hence I concluded when I moved to Belfast, that a Catholic School was the best way forward for my Kids !!

warmhands.coldheart

lazer wrote: »

saverbuyer is right - we can't advise on schools and areas unless we know what religin - ie: Do you want your child to go to a catholic school, a protestant (or "state" school) or integrated?

And I'm sorry to say and I know this will come across as quite harsh and non PC but Integrated schools in General have a much higher than average proportion of kids with learning difficulties and so classes can be interrupted and held back if that particular year has high number in the class..... Sorry but that is a fact !!