Bronte House/ Woodhouse Grove vs Bradford Grammar

[Chrisinthemorning]

Choosing a school seems to be one of the hardest decisions you make as a parent!
DS is currently at a very small independent primary school. He’s only in year 2 so we have time.
His current school is very local, very nurturing. He’s happy but there are only 7 boys in his class and he doesn’t seem to have made good friends, although he’s friendly with all. DH and I feel he may grow out of the school as he gets older. I’m happy with the class sizes but would prefer a FT teaching assistant as well as teacher- he doesn’t have this where he is but would at Bronte for example.
Options:
Leave him where he is, try for 11+ for State Grammar (Ermysteads) or private (Bradford Grammar). He’d probably need tutoring which isn’t what I want for his childhood and 11+ seems madly stressful for all.
Move him during primary to a bigger private school that goes to 18- either Bradford Grammar or Woodhouse Grove- but when?
We have looked around both and although wowed by the facilities of both, we preferred the ethos at Woodhouse. It seemed much friendlier and the music/ drama departments seemed better, whereas a Bradford it’s very sport/ rugby bias. Bradford is very academic. DS is fairly bright but no idea how academic he is. He’s a typical 6 year old boy! I want him happy and Woodhouse seemed a happier place.
The main thing putting me off moving him is the travel which would be half an hour each way. On top of a long school day he wouldn’t be home until 4.15-4.30.
His year at Bronte is nearly full. We can look to move him in September for year 3 onwards, if not the next opportunity would probably be for year 5 as Bronte go from 2 to 3 forms at that point.
Just a ramble really but any experience of either school appreciated!

I have had kids at neither, but friends with children at both and have been to each many times over the years or fixtures. I have to say my opinion would be the direct opposite of yours. WGS places a huge emphasis on sporting success to the extent that they give several full fees scholarships to kids who might boost their teams success. The feel of bronte and main school are quite different.
If your ds is reasonably bright then would be far more tempted to go for BGS as I know a few who have left WGS without any/very few passes at GCSE. However that has to be tempered with the sixth form requirements, which at BGS are the highest locally being sixth As or their new numerical equivalent.

I have a DC at BGS who went there from state primary. You’re right that it’s a long day when you factor in the 30 min commute. He has found that the children who went to Clock House found the transition far easier than those from elsewhere.
We didn’t do tutoring for the test (and didn’t try Ermysteads because wanted a co-ed school), but did practice numeracy and literacy with him (Bond books) for about 12 months.
I really don’t feel there is an excessive sport focus. My DS is totally unsporty but they’re encouraged to enjoy exercise and find their own forte. For him that’s swimming. Lots of people are keen on rugby, but equally plenty seem to have minimal interest. However, at open days they may be bigging it up due to all the current investment and upgrade.
Music seems strong to me - have been to several concerts and the standard has been, in my opinion, high.
Academically it seems fairly demanding but not unachievable. The pastoral care seems great so far.
I have no experience of WGS so can’t comment on that I’m afraid.

I went to WGS, I loved it! And not remotely sporty! I once did like a summer camp at BGS, honestly I hated it. It was huge and scared the hell out of me but I was probably 13 and never have been one for change. I must say it's easier when coming from bronte to WGS it really is a huge family and now I'm still friends with everyone I was at school. We have all done well etc.