Reccomendations for Primaries in Bristol with good reputation for dealing with bullying

[AlwaysBizzy]

After several incidents of physical bullying, we have had to face up to the reality that we have to move primary schools. It's clear from speaking to the school & from research on here & elsewhere, that this is the best option. Sad but true. It seems tha nowadays, children who have been hurt and/or bullied have to move schools rather than the bully.
My children are currently at Westbury Park in Bristol & we live locally.
We've started to look at alternatives, but I'm concerned that we could transfer them to another school, only to face a similar problem.
Does anyone know of schools in this part of Bristol that have a good reputation for dealing with bullying??

[harryhausen]

So sorry this has happened

I have no huge advice, but wanted to add that I'm in South Bristol if you want to cross the river to look?

I have friends with dcs at Sefton Park and St Bernadettes (they are not catholic) who are very happy with no bullying instances I know of.

I've known a few minor bullying issues in schools South of the river that seem to have been dealt with. What's your radius?

[AlwaysBizzy]

Thanks HarryHausen.
I'll check out the schools you've menioned. I work out of town so I need to consider the traffic getting accross town.
I went to see another school this week and one of the other parents who was looking around asked about bullying, the response was "we dont have much of that here". I heard the same message from westbury park, l...i think you get bullying everywhere, what matters is how they deal with it.
Another parent reccomended St Johns, but they have a big building programme underway at the moment. There's also Christchurch in Clifton & Elm lea...any thoughts on those?

[harryhausen]

Sefton Park and St Bernadettes are very much North of the river (sorry to confuse). I live South, but have friends across the city.

I know Bishop Rd is sought after but it's accepted huge bulge and extra classes for several years now and is still hard to get a place I think. I don't know about many others in North Bristol.

Good luck with it. You're right, any school who says there's no bullying is just kidding themselves. I'm sure you'll be fine eventually

[Jojobump1986]

Some friends of mine live in North Bristol & they seem to really like Charborough Road Primary. Not sure how far that is from you though.

[Talkinpeace]

the reputation of a school and the reality are often only loosely connected - especially in state primaries, and even more so as the academies march across the land

[AlwaysBizzy]

Talkinpeace - I agree wholeheartedly. We selected Westbury Park based on it's reputation rather than actual reccomendations from parents who had sent their kids there.

I guess what I'm looking for are reccomendations from parents at other schools in this area who have had positive experiences....theremust be some!

[AlwaysBizzy]

Thanks Jojobump - just checking where Charborough Rd is

[Campaspe]

Again, another vote for some of the schools in South Bristol here. St Annes Primary and Holymead Infants are both known around here as schools with a strong pastoral tradition and are thought of very highly by the local parents.

[darthsillius]

I don't know much about the geography of Bristol but an old school friend raves about her kids school, Knowle Park.

[givemeaclue]

Many of the schools mentioned on this thread are very over subscribed so bear that in mind

[crazymum53]

Knowle Park is in South Bristol and would be approx 3 miles from where you live so would be too far away.
St Bernadettes primary and secondary schools are in South Bristol in Whitchurch which would be approx 4 miles away. The catholic school in North Bristol referred to is probably St Bonaventures.

Sorry to hear about the bullying, but am afraid that in your area of North Bristol the primary schools are VERY oversubscribed. Really what you need to do is contact the LEA and find out which schools local to you have spaces in your dcs year groups and then ask if anybody knows anything about those schools.

[lebasi]

Our children are at Horfield C of E (North Bristol) - whilst I have no direct experience of how they deal with bullying, generally the pastoral care at the school is fantastic and friendship issues seem to be managed proactively and supportively. It is an over-subscribed school but there is some in-year movement, so you may find that spaces become available.

[AlwaysBizzy]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've spoken to the LEA (who are lovely & ever so helpful) & we've started looking at schools.

[harryhausen]

Crazymum, it was me who mentioned St Bernadettes. You're right. I do mean St Bonaventures. Sorry OP. I have a cheesy brain