Hereford/Gloucestershire?

[chubbmum]

We’re looking at relocating to the Forest of Dean/Cotswolds area. I’m worried about schools though.

looking for a very good secondary school for a bright, very well behaved year 9 and an even brighter, not so well behaved year 7. No private schools, single sex schools or academies. Grammar schools are ok. This seems to be an impossible find! We WFH so where the house is comes second to where the school is.

ideally would like a town where a car is not needed. A small town but drive-able to a large town or city

thanks!

Look at the Cotswold School (Bourton on the Water), or Chipping Campden School. Both excellent comprehensives.

Scrap my previous post. You would need a car to live in the catchments of these schools.

Houses in the Cotswolds are generally ££££££

Bishops Cleeve and Cleeve School? Most things are walkable and it’s a short drive into Cheltenham.

Thank you for comments!

we do have a car, and happy to use it! Just would like to live in an area where we don’t need to use it to visit shops if we don’t have to so I’ll still bear that one in mind.

££ is ok, we’d pay to live near the right school.

thanks!

You'll want to go for Cheltenham or Gloucester areas, then. Probably Cheltenham. Maybe Stroud?

You may find most secondary schools are academies, OP,

Disclaimer I work in one of the good Cheltenham comprehensives..

If you're moving to the Forest of Dean, Wyedean very near Chepstow is an easy journey and I think is served by a school bus service from close FoD villages eg St Briavels, Coleford.

https://www.wyedean.gloucs.sch.uk/

There is also the Five Acres High School in Coleford which is also served by good school transport around the Forest.

https://www.5acreshighschool.co.uk/

Second Wyedean, but also hear a lot of good things locally about Dean Academy recently, though it is of course an academy. Apparently it had problems a few years ago but is now pretty good. I know some children who do take the train into Cheltenham for grammar schools.

I know, it’s a real shame! If any are very good I may consider, but it’s the future with them that seems so uncertain. You start your child in a good one and then in a few years they can change how their run without having to run it past anyone and all of a sudden you’re stuck in a bad one!

thanks SO much for all suggestions! Lots of food for thought. Keep recommending areas to me, they’re very useful especially if seconded!

To be fair that can happen to any school, especially with the constant changes of Education Minister etc. Schools in general are very much at the mercy of government whims and fads unfortunately.

All council schools have to have two parent governors on each board though, so at least parents are aware, informed and have a say. Not so with academies

Cheltenham seems like the most obvious choice if you have a big budget. Balcaras school is very high performing, the catchment area is tiny but it's a lovely area. There is also the new high school in Leckhampton.
If you are considering grammar the only mixed sex grammars are Pates in Cheltenham or Crypt in Gloucester.

Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester all have grammars and buses ok for most kids. More expensive than FOD/Hereford but handier for going to London, Bristol etc

Sorry, missed the single sex bit. Is that because you want them to be in a mixed school or just handy for being in one place? If the latter Stroud High and Marling are next to each other. Otherwise as PP has said its Pates (v academic in Cheltenham) or Crypt (Glos)

I did look at the grammars in Stroud. Do they mix much? I’d rather they mixed with both sexes if possible but they seem like great schools so there must be a reason for keeping them single sex

Not hugely @chubbmum. They have some shared facilities - music, drama, DT etc but taught separately. Obviously all on the buses together but that's about it.

Im sure some DC work out how to socialise with their counterparts more than others!

Both 6th forms are mixed

Forest of Dean schools are still not fab to be honest. If you have the budget, I would say Cheltenham. You've got Bournside and Balcarras which are both good mixed state schools. Charlton Kings where Balcarras is has Cotswolds on the doorstep and lovely countryside.

There is also the new high school in Leckhampton

This school currently only has Y7 and Y8 so it would be impossible for your Y9 child to go there

Bear in mind, the school you select may not have places in the year groups you need. Popular schools are often oversubscribed and you’re not applying for transition places, but in year places I think.