King Edward's School, Bath

[salsalsydney]

Hi, I'm new to this site and I can see that it's full of helpful contributors. I'm liking it so far!

I'm wondering if anyone can give any feedback on King Edward's School in Bath?

And pros and cons?

Thank you so much.

A work colleagues DC’s go there they seem to like it she never complains (except about the bill), her partner is a sports nut and he likes the games offered and seriousness and level they play at.
The only thing is I do get the impression from her comments that it has quite a lot of “thrusting” parents who drive flash cars and many are first time buyers into independent education and that the parents are very results focused. I don’t get the impression they’re after a Renaissance education.

Thanks so much! We are looking at different options. We would like a well rounded school that creates a happy environment for my child.

My friend's DS goes there. The boy is very bright and my friend doesn't feel the school stretches him as much as she would like. He also seemed to take a bit of time to settle there (but that may be more the child than school). However, overall they are happy with the choice. They are also very pleased with the sports provision.

Friend's daughter went there in sixth form and said that they were most interested in the pupils who were going to be accountants or doctors.

My friend's children go there, and she's been delighted, both academically and sporting-wise. Her eldest has done some pretty amazing things with his rugby. We were considering it for our DC, but ended up in Bristol rather than Bath. I think if your children are bright, it's an excellent place to put them in Bath.

Happygardening. Is there anywhere local you would recommend for a renaissance education( I have girls & couldn't afford boarding fees)

Thank you. We will arrange to visit the school and go on from there :)

I travel with work and do artist assemblies and classroom workshops. I was invited there for a day in 2014.

It was a lovely equipped school with very well behaved pupils but I wasn't too keen on a personal level.

I found many of the pupils very 'rule following' - they were reluctant to shout out ideas/thoughts, asking me what the right answer was and whether any work they did would go towards a final mark. The Art teacher who oversaw me complained to me all day about how the parents don't value anything artistic as a goal or career choice. He asked me to speak to a sixth former at lunchtime who was exceptionally talented at animation. The boy told me his dad would only let him study Law at university.
Many of the teachers were a bit rude to me. One asked me my profession and told me he wanted help in getting a book published. When he didn't like my answers he told me I was talking 'piffle' and knew nothing.

It's all a bit personal and my own experience, but I came away feeling a bit odd.

This was only a very small day experience for me though and I'm sure there is a HUGE amount of school life I didn't see or even hear of. It's a very nice school in nice surroundings.

I would avoid at all costs. My experience is that they want clones, so children who are all the same who conform, if the child has a personality that doesn’t fit then the child is criticised and made to feel utterly useless. The confidence sapping approach has reduced my son from a confident bright child to one who believes he is useless and ‘rubbish at everything’. I regret not removing him at the end of year 7 - don’t have regrets unless you are looking for an exam factory approach.

standupandsay what do you think of the other Bath schools? Is there somewhere else you would recommend instead which will build up their confidence whilst still helping them succeed academically?

I can’t comment as I haven’t had any other experience so far but have heard great things about Kingswood school both in terms of pastoral support and academic achievement, and a more inclusive approach to sport. My child will be going there for 6th form.

I know someone whose daughter attends Prior Park in Bath and they have found it very supportive and well rounded in their approach to all subjects.

Thanks standupandsay and butterfly990 I think good pastoral care is so important now. Seems a lot tougher being a kid now than it used to be.