moving to bristol

[Cydders3]

i'm a single mum to a 6 year old girl and we are planning to relocate to Bristol asap - can anyone please recommend a really great primary school and area to live - thank you xxxx

[Sukitakeitoff]

Hi Cydders, Bristol's a great place to live but some parts are expensive. Are you looking for a house or flat, and what's your budget?

[Ewanwhosearmy]

All the really good primary schools are oversubscribed, so trying to get a KS1 place in one will be virtually impossible.

[stwerbsgeekymama]

Depends on your definition of "really good" I guess.

DS has had a couple of kids join his Reception class this year - his school (Glenfrome) is lovely and supportive. We live a bit closer to a heavily oversubscribed school but are really happy with this one. I don't think it's true that all good primaries are oversubscribed.

[tumpymummy]

Not all the good Primary schools are full. But Bristol is a big place with lots of very different areas. You really need to visit to see which sort of area you wish to live in, then contact the schools to find out if they have places.

[jennymac31]

OP - I think 'tumpymummy' makes a good point. I live in south Bristol and really like where I am but would recommend that you spend some time in Bristol to work what areas you like as well as whether they are within your budget and then you can look into schools whilst deciding which area/s you might prefer.

[Wrigglebum]

Yes, the budget will affect where you can look. Bristol is a big place with so many different areas, as well as places around the outskirts and in South Gloucestershire, North Somerset or BANES but are still really Bristol suburbs.

Also, do you need to commute to a particular part of Bristol?

My children are at St Ursula's in Henleaze and it's oversubscribed but places often become available even in KS1. It's a lovely area around here but pricey, though plenty come from Brentry to the school.

[Sukitakeitoff]

If I were you I would rent as close as possible to one of the bigger (3 or 4 form entry) to maximise your chances of (a) a place coming up and (b) being top of the waiting list.

[Cydders3]

Thank you for all your advice tbh I don't reall Bristol so think I'll come down and have a wander around to get a feeling - we're on a low budget at the moment but hoping to improve that (aren't we all) any thoughts of nice areas to start - not too far from the centre, friendly community and good pastoral care school, parks nearby, arty area, all desiresble x

[Cydders3]

Oops that should say don't really know Bristol at all

[babybels]

I'd probably recommend Southville / Bedminster areas as they might tick your boxes, although prices have been rising there . I'm from Bristol but not that area so can't recommend schools there as I'm in north Bristol. Greenbank is also an area that might be worth visiting.

[stwerbsgeekymama]

Agree with babybels. Not so familiar with Greenbank (have been to the pub of that name a couple of times) but hear it's nice - May Park is one of the local primaries. We had it as our insurance choice for DS as it's 4 form entry, and lots of parents were talking about how impressed they were with their visits to it when we were visiting schools to find one for DS. So worth checking out I think.

Easton area itself seems more run down, esp around Stapleton Road (this is just my impression from wandering around there to shops on St Marks Rd etc). Eastville has a massive park (actually tbh Bristol seems pretty well supplied with parks).

The guide for reception applications, though it isn't relevant to you, might give you an idea of which schools are oversubscribed: www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/33083/Guide+for+parents+2017-18/6e17ff8d-73a3-4b4c-92f2-560f829ddc50 but obviously you'd need to contact the school to check if there are still places in your daughter's year.

There's some useful info linked from www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/in-year-admission

[jennymac31]

I live in south Bristol (Knowle) and would agree that southville/Bedminster are lovely areas to live in. It's good that you've been provided with links regarding school admissions but from recollection a lot of the schools in south Bristol are over-subscribed particularly in the areas of southville/Bedminster/totterdown/Knowle/Brislington. I hope the links do provide additional information for you on school allocation.

[2014newme]

Secondary schools in south illegally and Bedminster are a problem.
What's your budget?

[2014newme]

Illegally? South Bristol that should have said

[Cydders3]

A problem? Budget is variable right now but low x

[2014newme]

Access to decent secondaries in south Bristol is a problem as most are not very good and the good ones especially are very oversubscribed. And it's been that way for 20 years, people keep saying it will change but it hasn't. If you are a churchgoer you should be OK.
Bristol could be a tricky place to move to on a low budget.

[jennymac31]

Some of the secondary schools in south Bristol have not got the best reputation/ofsted report e.g. Oasis academy Brislington was deemed 'requiring improvement' in last ofsted but I understand that things are on the up with this school. St Mary redcliffe secondary school is rated 'outstanding' (I believe) but is heavily subscribed.

You stated your budget is low. Are you able to give a ball park figure or have you looked on any property sites to see what's available in your budget?

[2014newme]

St Mary redcliffe have a religious requirement but I've never heard of anyone meeting that requirement not getting in. However it's not turning up at church the odd time it's being very involved in the church hall is my understanding.

[Ivory200]

Strongly agree with renting to get a feel for the different areas. Bristol is a big city, but a lot of small villages, you need to find your tribe

[Rudi44]

My niece goes to St Mary Redcliffe and she attended church with her mum I would say 3 out of 4 Sundays but no other church involvement to get in. Many of my daughters class mates are going there this sept. I understand why people in this part of Bristol pin their hopes on St MR as there is little other choice locally but it's a real shame that there isn't a decent non religious option South of the river. Lots go to Bath, independent or Ashton

[jennymac31]

OP - as rudi44 says, it's disappointing that the choice of secondary schools in south Bristol is limited. My niece attends Colston girls school (north Bristol) and is having a really good time there but this is another over-subscribed school. Many of the teenagers in my area seem to attend CGS, St MR as well as Wellsway academy or broadlands academy (both of which are in Keynsham). The odd few attend Bristol cathedral choir school in town or oldfield Park, which is in Bath. Some do attend the local oasis academies in south Bristol but most seem to venture out of the local area.

There are two new secondary academies due to be built near temple meads station as well as another academy built on the site of oasis John Williams so it's hoped that the secondary school issue in south Bristol will improve.

[WhenTheDragonsCame]

I'm currently at university in Bristol and moved to be able to attend 2 years ago.

I found it impossible to find anywhere to rent because as soon as the letting agents found out I was on a low budget they told me it wasn't even worth asking the landlord. I was competing against doctors and others of that ilk. I ended up finding somewhere 35 miles away and now commute.

Hopefully things have improved since then and you are able to find somewhere.

[Sukitakeitoff]

Horfield may be worth a look - Bishops Road catchment.

[Cydders3]

I'm a freelance TV Producer so trying to pull work, school and location together is quite a juggling act - a friend has suggested Montpelier?