King Edwards Bath or other choices?

[SchoonerP]

Does anyone have an opinion in KES Bath? We'd be moving him from Abingdon which I think has a stronger academic standing?

Perhaps kingswood? Hopeful bump.

I have friends with DC there who are very happy with the school. They have one child who is very academic and they think he could be stretched more but he is happy and they aren’t really worried about him therefore academically.

Thank you! The not being stretched enough is a bit of a worry.

I have 2 children at KES. Also
applied to Kingswood, my eldest was offered academic scholarships to both but preferred KES. We have been delighted with the academic, sport & other opportunities so far. I haven’t had children at Abingdon clearly although my colleagues have. I went to an a academic all girls boarding school & my children are as stretched as I was & love school. Feel free to pm me if you want.

@Kesparent Do you have any experience of the prep at KES? Any suggestions for where to live as far as villages are concerned?

No prep experience as mine were at a village primary. Depends where you want to get to as crossing Bath can be tricky in rush hour. We live to the north it’s a bit more expensive as easier for commuting via M4.

KES is academically stronger than Kingswood or RHS. Kingswood has a reputation for turning out well rounded pupils. RHS is definitely worth considering for an all girls school. Boarding available at Kingswood and RHS but not KES.

But I'm also familiar with Abingdon which has a great reputation and IMO better at combining academics and rounding than any of the Bath schools - why the move?

We are moving to be closer to family. DS currently at Abingdon prep which to be honest we aren't very impressed with. It seems to be trading off the senior schools reputation. We also have a DD to come and coed would be my preference. One drop off sounds like a dream! But I don't want to move DS away from a substantially better school (at least at senior level).

@SchoonerP

OK that makes sense or is boarding at Abingdon not an option.

I guess it comes down to whether you end up living north of Bath or South or East of Bath. Trying to cross Bath for a school run would be a nightmare (a four mile journey once took me 45 minutes).

I know you said you preferred co ed but for your DD at least have a look at St Mary's Calne as it is a very very good school.

Abingdon only has boarding at the senior school but it's a tiny proportion that board and it's very much a day school. The boarders, from what I can tell, are all from abroad.

It doesn't matter which side of Bath we live on. I'd prefer to live in a village if possible. Any recommendations?

Well as a previous poster said north of Bath is more expensive than south / east of Bath as you are closer to the M4 and getting close to the Cotswolds. West of Bath and you start ending up in quite Bristol suburbs.

If you don't need the M4 then you definitely get more bang for your buck to the south and east. Plus there are some lovely villages there. But I am more familiar with the north so you would get much better advice from other posters on villages to the south and east.

If you do want to go north and want to live in Bath itself then Lansdown is the posh expensive bit. Bathampton is also nice with a villagey feel. Personally though for three or four miles further north it is a lot cheaper than Lansdown - I guess it's a question of whether you are a town or country person.

To the north there are various nice villages in a corridor either side of the M4 between the A46 and Chippenham. Places like TormRton to Hullavington and Marshfield to Chippenham western suburbs (including Castle Combe which is chocolate box). But to be clear these will be very much rural / small villages of f you are happy with that, and I guess a lot depends on the actual property itself.