A guide to schools in LA1 5

LA1 5 is an interesting postcode when it comes to primary schools, as whilst it is home to approximately 9010 people (data taken from the last census) and approximately 33% of these are families with children,  there are just 2 primary schools and both of these are located in Marsh.   

When you live in LA1 5, many of the children go to schools in neighbouring postcodes.  For example, many children in Scale Hall go to Grosvenor Park Primary School which is officially in LA3 ( it is literally a few minutes away ) whilst others go to Lancaster Ryelands Primary School ( This school is in LA1 2 )   Both rate as good.    Over in Fairfield, some of the children attend Dallas Road Primary School which is featured in our LA1 1 guide and if you live in Haverbreaks,  it is not unusual for your child to attend school in Scotforth.    

The two schools located in LA1 5 are Willow Lane Community School and the Lancaster Steiner School. 

Willow Lane Community School

Willow Lane Community School is a school which is rated good by Ofsted.  It is a larger school with approximately 200 children however class sizes never exceed more than 30 children.   It is a school which focuses as much on values as it does education and rightly says people come first.

It is these educational values that attract many people to the school and by getting these right, the school has created an environment where the children thrive.   Each term a different value is focussed on ( Co-operation, Courage, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Love, Resilience, Respect, Responsibility, Tolerance, Trust and Understanding ).   The school also promotes the British Values of Democracy, Rule of Law, Tolerance, Respect and individual Liberty.  Interestingly the school's results are above the UK and Lancashire averages.  

Find out more about the school here.   It is worth noting that many parents have commented on how great the headteacher at the school is.  

https://www.willow.lancs.sch.uk

Lancaster Steiner School

To many Lancaster Steiner School is a bit of an enigma.  Many wonder about this school and what it offers or is even about.  

Steiner Schools offer an alternative way of learning for children.  In the UK there are just 35 Steiner Schools.  These are schools which don’t test, there are no SATS.  Instead, children are encouraged to learn in an unhurried and more creative way which also develops their individual thinking.  Creativity is at the heart of the school although 2 hours every day is dedicated to core learning subjects and at least one foreign language is learned.    What is really interesting is that the pupils tend to have the same teacher as they progress through the years.  

Steiner Schools are independent schools.   We have met parents who tell us that when their child joins the mainstream school,  their depth of learning is far deeper.   In the first few months, for some, adjusting can be difficult, however, it is not long before their child is excelling and often achieving higher grades as they see solutions not problems.  

Lancaster Steiner Schools caters for children aged up to 11.  It is the only Steiner school in the Northwest of England.  It is a paid-for school.  The school fees can be found on their website.   

https://lancastersteinerschool.org/fees-and-bursaries/

If you would like to know about living in LA1 5, why not check out our guide to the area.   

More information can be found by clicking here