Independent NON RELIGIOUS schools in Birmingham

[AnaPeon]

Hi, parents of the world,

I am looking for a school for my daughter, turning 5 in the autumn 2021, in the southern area of Birmingham (easy access to uni, in any case). On paper, I really like the following:

1. Moor Green: their website says it is a forest school. How much more is it than other schools? Also, they say nothing about streaming: do they not do it?

2. Tiverton

3. Bournville Village

4. Harborne Primary

I got the feeling (always from the website) that Bournville and Harborne are very focused on contents and somehow potentiate competition. Any thoughts on this? Also, they don't specify whether streaming is done in separate classrooms or not. Does anyone know?

Any hints on how to make up my mind, considering that visiting is hard for me as I won't be around until after the normal open days dates and COVID is making it hard?

Finally, as a back up plan, any private schools in the spirit of a Forest school that work well?

Many thanks in advance!

Now you have clarified, I think you will probably struggle to find the type of school you want in South Birmingham.
Colmore, Bournville Village, Harborne are all very large schools, on very small plots of land, and all three are highly competitive. Bournville also has a specific catchment, whereby you must live on specific streets to gain a place (and closer is easier because it's hugely oversubscribed).

Moor Green has been easy to get a place at until recently for obvious reasons- but Tappetytap's post shows how difficult it is to get a true picture of a school from its website, or even open day- it sounds as though the school has really turned it around and is doing well now.

Is it the University you need to get to daily? If you're looking at Moor Green catchment then you'll probably need to cycle.

I agree with previous poster's assessment of Tiverton- it's a lovely school, but in a student area, so many people don't actually know it exists! It's small too, so more personal.

I am confused by your talk of streaming though. You seem to be looking for least competitive, almost alternative type schools but worried about streaming. Could you clarify for me please?

There are a few Montessori nurseries, but nursery school only, no primaries. There is no Waldorf school in Birmingham. Did you mean the one in Stourbridge? There is no way you could use that but be at University every day, it just wouldn't work with Steiner-style education expectations.

Regarding independent schools (i.e. fee paying) Edgbaston Girls have a good amount of outdoor space, and they are directly next to the botanical gardens, I think they do quite a lot of outdoor stuff. Hallfield have Forest School with a wild area, they have an allotment style garden and chickens, and all year groups access them as part of the school day. They also have a lot of outdoor play, and are on huge grounds. Blue Coat also have large grounds, with plenty of outdoor games, but I'm not sure whether they have a forest school area.
These schools are highly competitive though, aimed at achieving places in selective secondary schools (edgbaston girls to a lesser extent) and that does not sound like what you want. St George's has Montessori nursery, small class sizes, and is very much aimed at nurturing the individual. Strongly Christian though!
Fees at independent schools in England are not at the same level as those in Spain. I think you will be shocked when you begin to investigate.

As previous posters have said- all schools in England have a Christian ethos. There are no secular schools, and day worship is an actual requirement in law.
However, that is interpreted in myriad ways, and schools are often sympathetic to the needs of their intake, so in an area where the intake is 99% Muslim, the religious content will be tailored to Islam rather than Christianity. RE as a curriculum subject is where children learn about multiple religions, and isn't opt-out. However, a parent can withdraw their child from daily worship if they wish... but in my experience this is isolating for the child (there isn't much for them to do when the whole school is in assembly together) and they miss out on announcements, celebration of achievements, etc etc.

You'll also need to adjust your mindset for the rental market here. "getting a flat close enough" isn't going to work for Harborne or Bournville, and unlikely for colmore (the flats by that school are social housing, waiting lists are about six years). When property is available by these schools, it's gone the same day. Lots of areas don't have flats, you'll need to look at small houses.
Also consider if you're staying long term as secondary catchment will then become important.

Doh! What I also keep meaning to say is that Kings Heath Primary is probably quite close in ethos to what you want.
But- no outdoor space, it's a very cramped site (you have lots of amazing parks in Kings Heath though, really outstanding) and it's an utter pig to get to the university unless you're cycling. I'm not sure about their wraparound care either, but it's probably on their website.
If you're working full time you'll need to investigate before and after school care as matter of urgency. When we looked, Colmore had a three year waiting list for after-school care, but that was some time ago. Absolutely useless for working parents. (And a six week staggered part time start to reception )

Bluecoat School has a forest school area, and as pp has said large grounds. But, it is a very Christian school - has a school chaplain and chapel services once a week which everyone attends irrespective of their religion at home (it accepts pupils of other faiths, but they participate in the Christian worship).

That's all immaterial probably, as when I last heard the waiting list for places at entry (aged 3) is massive - children have to be registered for a place very soon after birth to avoid the waiting list!

@KingsHeathen

Now you have clarified, I think you will probably struggle to find the type of school you want in South Birmingham. Colmore, Bournville Village, Harborne are all very large schools, on very small plots of land, and all three are highly competitive. Bournville also has a specific catchment, whereby you must live on specific streets to gain a place (and closer is easier because it's hugely oversubscribed).

Moor Green has been easy to get a place at until recently for obvious reasons- but Tappetytap's post shows how difficult it is to get a true picture of a school from its website, or even open day- it sounds as though the school has really turned it around and is doing well now.

Is it the University you need to get to daily? If you're looking at Moor Green catchment then you'll probably need to cycle.

I agree with previous poster's assessment of Tiverton- it's a lovely school, but in a student area, so many people don't actually know it exists! It's small too, so more personal.

I am confused by your talk of streaming though. You seem to be looking for least competitive, almost alternative type schools but worried about streaming. Could you clarify for me please?

There are a few Montessori nurseries, but nursery school only, no primaries. There is no Waldorf school in Birmingham. Did you mean the one in Stourbridge? There is no way you could use that but be at University every day, it just wouldn't work with Steiner-style education expectations.

Regarding independent schools (i.e. fee paying) Edgbaston Girls have a good amount of outdoor space, and they are directly next to the botanical gardens, I think they do quite a lot of outdoor stuff. Hallfield have Forest School with a wild area, they have an allotment style garden and chickens, and all year groups access them as part of the school day. They also have a lot of outdoor play, and are on huge grounds. Blue Coat also have large grounds, with plenty of outdoor games, but I'm not sure whether they have a forest school area.
These schools are highly competitive though, aimed at achieving places in selective secondary schools (edgbaston girls to a lesser extent) and that does not sound like what you want. St George's has Montessori nursery, small class sizes, and is very much aimed at nurturing the individual. Strongly Christian though!
Fees at independent schools in England are not at the same level as those in Spain. I think you will be shocked when you begin to investigate.

As previous posters have said- all schools in England have a Christian ethos. There are no secular schools, and day worship is an actual requirement in law.
However, that is interpreted in myriad ways, and schools are often sympathetic to the needs of their intake, so in an area where the intake is 99% Muslim, the religious content will be tailored to Islam rather than Christianity. RE as a curriculum subject is where children learn about multiple religions, and isn't opt-out. However, a parent can withdraw their child from daily worship if they wish... but in my experience this is isolating for the child (there isn't much for them to do when the whole school is in assembly together) and they miss out on announcements, celebration of achievements, etc etc.

Thanks! Yes, I have clarified also to myself, I was a little confused I think...

Let me explain: I am indeed looking for alternative approaches to education; on the other hand I prefer state education, which seems to be incompatible up to a point. I would like a school where they stress other aspects, aiming more at nurturing the individual emotionally, his/her own interests and self initiative, contact with nature (that's why I insist on forest schools). That's why I was looking into Montessori and Steiner. I did mean the school in Stourbridge, I saw a Montessori school in Sollyhull, I think? Although they keep all places for Montessori nursery kids. I do have to be at UoB every day, yes.

Thanks for the clarification about worship. This sounds somehow strange to me, but it is as it is. How about atheists? Don't these people complain? I mean, it all depends on how you present the contents, I am happy about her learning about world religions and their history, not so much about the worshiping part. But if opting out would isolate her, I may just go along with it...

The independent ones you mention sound interesting, but if they are as competitive as the state academies, I would try these first. Thanks for that :) Any alternative schools' you know in the spirit I mentioned?

@KingsHeathen

Doh! What I also keep meaning to say is that Kings Heath Primary is probably quite close in ethos to what you want. But- no outdoor space, it's a very cramped site (you have lots of amazing parks in Kings Heath though, really outstanding) and it's an utter pig to get to the university unless you're cycling. I'm not sure about their wraparound care either, but it's probably on their website. If you're working full time you'll need to investigate before and after school care as matter of urgency. When we looked, Colmore had a three year waiting list for after-school care, but that was some time ago. Absolutely useless for working parents. (And a six week staggered part time start to reception )

Crazy about after school! I wasn't aware it was so complicated! I will look into Kings Heath, thanks for mentioning, and for all the comments :)

@FlossieF

Bluecoat School has a forest school area, and as pp has said large grounds. But, it is a very Christian school - has a school chaplain and chapel services once a week which everyone attends irrespective of their religion at home (it accepts pupils of other faiths, but they participate in the Christian worship).

That's all immaterial probably, as when I last heard the waiting list for places at entry (aged 3) is massive - children have to be registered for a place very soon after birth to avoid the waiting list!

Thanks, FlossieF, but it is not an option for me...Plus, as you say, if there's a huge waiting list there's no way I am getting in.

I'm afraid I can't think of any alternative schools in Birmingham at all. It's not that kind of area!

All English state schools are required to have "daily Christian worship with a strongly Christian flavour". These are generally known as assemblies. Given how mixed Birmingham is in terms of religious diversity, I suspect many schools would have a similar approach to the one I work in (London). Each assembly includes a story. Sometimes biblical, or from another religion, or a fable, or about an inspiring real life event or person, or any other story. At the end, children are asked to join in with a reflection. Occasionally, a Christian prayer might be shared.

Religious education (RE) is separate and involves learning about the major religions. It's an academic lesson and compulsory. Maybe studied for about an hour a fortnight in most primary schools.

I'm an atheist and it all seems OK to me.

You could try looking at Raddlebarn. I know people that opt for that school rather than Bournville as it's less pressured. There are quite a number of academics with children there too, as it's an easy walk/cycle to the university. (Not so easy back though- that hill!)

Blimey 🥴😵. Do other people not just send their kids to their local catchment anymore 😂

My DD goes to Kings Norton primary school which as a PP said is south Birmingham and not far away from Bournville. The area around Kings Norton green is lovely and the school EP forest school in the coppice behind the school from reception onwards.
It also has the advantage of being close to Kings Norton train station which will get you to the uni in less than 10 mins.
We are very happy with it and I believe spaces have become more desirable within the last couple of years as Bournville, Harborne and Kings Heath are expensive places to live.
I have friends who's children who go to Bournville and Harborne. Like PP have said both schools are very middle class. Both have specific catchment areas and I think if you are outside catchment is extremely difficult to get into.
Good luck with your search and I hope you manage to find somewhere suitable.

@Soonbechrimbo Speaking from the area OP is talking about there were a lot of issues a few years ago, my DD was 1of 5 that moved from one school to another from the same year.

@Daisychainsandglitter The catchment area has really decreased now.

@Daisychainsandglitter, isn't King's Norton a girl's school? Or the junior one? I'd also like to avoid segregation...

Kings Norton Primary school is a mixed school.
At high school they are segregated should you choose to send your DC to them. There is kings norton girls school and a separate boys school. I'm not keen on segregation either but in South Birmingham there are quite a few segregated high schools.

Do you know these areas? For what it's worth, I am a brummie through and through but oh my goodness most of the areas people reccomend as lovely to live with good schools are absolutely horrible.
For the most part they look nice in pictures and were beautiful places to live 50 or 60 years ago but are now rough as anything.
You honestly couldn't pay me enough to live in Bourneville or Harbourne.
And I live in Sheldon which isn't nice at all but the furthest towards Solihull I could afford.

i know you don't want to pay if you can avoid it (who does) but this looks like it might tick a lot of your boxes?

elmfield.com/the-education/through-the-school/waldorf-curriculum/

I saw a Montessori school in Sollyhull, I think?

The Montessori school in Solihull is an early years setting only and goes up to age 5. There is a Montessori primary school in Henley-in-Arden but it is private (fee-paying) and possibly too far out for a regular commute to the university.

Bournville and Harborne "as rough as anything"? Apart from certain parts of Edgbaston, I can't think of anywhere in Birmingham less "rough".

Clearly people have different views on what constitutes a rough area, and you'll need to visit to see how they measure up to your standards. But, if Bournville and Harborne are too "rough" for you, then I think you'll have to rule out living anywhere in Birmingham, and accept a significant commute to the university.

Is there a reason why you need to be in South Birmingham, are you moving there for a job? I just wondered as if forest school is your priority I wouldn’t have thought of Birmingham suburbs as the best location - there are lots of nice villages surrounding Birmingham where you’d find schools with far more outside space and more of a forest/countryside feel?

Wheelers Lane is a lovely school with a forest school attached, they have an association with billesley allotments and the kids go there a lot to work on planting and growing vegetables. Not too oversubscribed especially if you live close enough.

State schools in the UK are either faith schools (the vast majority of these are Christian and usually CofE) or community schools. Even in community schools there is a legal requirement for daily acts of corporate worship, which will be wholly or mainly Christian (though this may be different in schools with a substantial intake of children from a different religious background). There will also be religious education, which is more about learning about different faiths.

You can withdraw your child from the corporate worship if you feel very strongly about it, but I would suggest talking to the school about (a) what the content of the corporate worship is likely to include and (b) what the arrangements are for children who are withdrawn. You might even ask to visit a typical assembly to see for yourself what it consists of. It's nothing like a church service, in most schools, and the faith content is pretty nebulous, usually.

Also, I don't know of any Montessori schools in the UK, only nurseries. There might be one or two, but it's very unusual.

Honestly, most schools are fine. Just find somewhere you want to live and send your kids to the local primary like everyone else.

One of the first things you need to consider is budget tbh, some of the places you mention are very expensive and you’ll need to practically live on top of the school to get in. Harbourne and to some extent Bournville are professional areas and parents (and therefore they schools) likely to be more pushy.

Are you driving to the university or relying on train/bus? What length of commute would you consider into the Uni?