Bristol secondary schools

[Sagharbor]

Hi everyone,
We are relocating to North Bristol this autumn.
Our DS will require a place in year 7 (state school). Given we're still abroad and have not found a place to live yet, so can’t apply for schools, how can we ensure he gets a spot?

Is it best to wait until the school year has commenced then apply or should we do this before the start of the school year in September?

thanks!

I would phone the LA and ask, and you’ve missed the deadline for applications, but this must happen often so there must be a procedure

Which part of North Bristol? Some areas of the city have Bristol as the postal address but are actually in South Gloucestershire (Bristol is also a county in its own right).

Thanks for your replies. @MrsMoastyToasty, around Clifton/Redland.

Ah well your closest schools would be Redland green, cotham and also cathedral would be worth a shot!

If you will know your address soon, you should put an application in as soon as possible. National offer day is 1st March and although you've already missed the application deadline for that, they do reoffer any places that have come up (some people decline their place if they decide to go to private school instead or are moving away) between March and May in a 'second round allocation'. After that appeals are held for schools that are full. The schools in that area are all very popular and historically have appeals heard for them every year.
See bristol city council school admissions webpage for full details on how to apply and the online parent brochure and statements on previous years allocations for each school.
If you won't know your Bristol address until after the second round allocation will be done, ring the school admissions office for advice now (the lines will be v busy after 1st March). All the best!

Sorry, that's the school admissions office at Bristol city council you should ring - they handle all the Year 7 admissions for all Bristol state secondary schools. Probably a good idea to ring them now so they can give you the best advice!

Redland Green is really difficult to get a place at unless you live really near. Cathedral School is always hugely over subscribed too.

Bristol Free School is good & there's a new school Trinity Academy which is part of Cathedral School trust.

Cotham & Fairfield are not too far but different to RGS.

I think you need an address to make your application.

Thanks for your replies!

@converseandjeans, thanks for your reply.
How different is RGS to Cotham & Fairfield?

I'd advise you to email the School Admissions officer, Jim Britton, at Bristol City Council. He's so helpful: [email protected] . (His email address is available publicly hence me popping it on here).

There's also a tool on the Bristol City Council website where you can look at furthest offer distances for all the schools in past years.

@Sagharbor

Cotham and Fairfield are much more diverse schools.

sagharbour

Yes Cotham & Fairfield & Montpelier High are very diverse (both culturally & economically ). Redland Green is very white & middle class. Kids have usually got professional parents & reasonably well off. You have to earn decent money to live near enough to the school to get a place.