Clifton High or Bristol Grammar?

[SSG3Monkeys]

Hello,

I searched through the posts but I would really appreciate some more recent experiences in either school please.

We were offered places from both but weren't able to visit either school because of the pandemic.

Thank you.

I went to the open days of both in 2018 and 2019 in preparation for making this decision but the right choice for us may not be the right choice for you so can you say a bit more about your DC likes, strengths, hopes etc?

Hi @SSG3Monkeys, my children are at CHS, and when we were choosing schools for eldest, we looked at both. We wanted a school that would best suit both children. One child is academic, a high achiever, the other has ASD and is more average in their academic success. Both have done well at CHS, and have benefitted from the small size of the school, I think.

I really like the new Head at CHS, and pastoral care at the school has always been very good.

The more academic child is likely to move to BGS for Sixth Form as a bit of a step up in preparation for Uni. Friends with children at BGS are very happy.

But our circumstances are specific to our children, and yours may be very different.

You know the CHS virtual open day is today? You might be able to get on to it if you contact them quickly.

@YayoKireZukusi Thank you for replying. He's very academic but not very sporty. We actually like both schools and what they offer. We're just wondering if BGS might be less supportive if he was weaker in one subject or his marked dropped for any reason (as in sickness, other life event etc..). We wonder if they're quick to ask you to leave. Clifton comes across as more caring and supportive but less academic. We're a bit upset that Clifton gave us a deadline before public schools announcement though. BGS gives us longer to accept the place.
Where did you choose and why?

Hi! Thank you. I believe that's for primary. Sorry, didn't specify we're looking at year 7 onwards.

@EmmaStone

Thank you so much for your reply. You've confirmed what we are thinking. Our eldest is very academic and driven but I can see my twins would be better suited in Clifton especially one of them whom I swear is on the border of ADHD and is very creative and very bright too.

My eldest really likes the head of Clifton too and so do we.

I didn't think of moving to BGS for 6th form only. Is that doable? I was told it would be easier to get into Clifton from BGS rather than the other way around.

@SSG3Monkeys - for secondary only id go with whatever suits each child best, presumably they can travel to their schools by themselves? Or are you quite far out? CHS and BGS are geographically close enough that your eldest could go to bgs and your younger to CHS quite easily.

I’d definitely choose BGS for a very academic child. Also as you say if fir any reason it doesn’t work out it would be much easier to switch from BGS to CHS than the other way round.

Judging by the talk amongst the kids, moving for Sixth Form is very normal. Bristol schools seem to all be quite competitive, and chasing students. I've been really impressed with how inclusive the school is, in their first week, eldest came home and casually mentioned there was a trans kid in a higher year, completely nonchalant. Plenty of kids with a variety of SEN, well supported by teachers and parents alike. But academic students pushed, with the Head supporting the Oxbridge/medicine/vet science students directly. No such thing as a perfect school, but we've been very happy on the whole.

There's no reason why your different DC shouldn't go to different schools, if that is what suits them. It can be very good for younger siblings to be at a different school from the eldest, so that they don't get seen as "X's little brother/sister"

We've chosen BGS having had a couple of conversations with their Learning Support due to some neurodiversity issues, and felt very reassured that there would be no shortcoming there compared to CHS on the pastoral front but did think it was the better choice academically. The open days there we went to pre-pandemic were really inspiring, whereas CHS was more like "ok, not bad". The other thing that swung it for us was CHS's unusual segregation of boys and girls and how they justify it with different learning styles. Which is all very well but really counter-productive for any child that doesn't fit the expected stereotypes for their sex. I can see that it might work out well for a lot of kids but I think it could be totally unhelpful for others, so it would depend on the individual DC.

I do wonder how CHS handles kids who don’t feel they fit into the “diamond edge” learning model, eg if they are questioning their gender identity? Does anybody know?

@Grooticle @EmmaStone @YayoKireZukusi

Thank you very much for all your comments/suggestions. We went for BGS in the end as it made more sense for our eldest and logistically!

Hi, I’m looking at both BGS and Clifton High for my son in year 7(September 22) he is acedemic( especially in maths) and also loves sport and is a confident boy.( football mainly) he will be moving from state school ( which he doesn’t want!) just wanted some feedback on both schools. Also is it compulsory to play rugby every sat as he is in a football team and plays every Saturday. Feel him leaving his friends in year 7 and missing his football would be difficult!
Thank you