that and deerness were always known as the rough schools 20 years ago.Born and raised in Willington but live abroad now.
It's not as much of a shithole as it used to be as there's the new estate down by the cricket field/old carpet factory and the houses where the spectrum leisure centre is. Still it wouldn't be on my list to move there if I ever did go back.
Parkside school known as rough? No idea where you got that from. Was/is a decent school with some canny teachers. Changed a lot since I left 18 years ago with it now being parkside academy.
The only schools I can remember which had a bad reputation nearby were Bishop Barrington and Wolsingham. Not really sure why though.