Private schools in wiltshire area - help!

[milge]

I need to decide on a school for ds ( in year 1 currently) We are near Jct 16 of the M4. So far, I have eliminated Pinewood as its ISI report for 7+ wasn't great ( outstanding for pre prep) so am left with , I think, St Francis Pewsey, St Hughs Oxford or Butcombe and then Clifton ( plus a long drive to Bristol).
looking to move him from sept or at a push Jan 09, so places will be important too. Any views/help gratefully received.

Junction 16??? Is that the turn off close to Leigh Delamere services??? Or the next one down into Swindon more?
We used to live at Lyneham and schools we considerd were Grittleton House near Chippenham. Dont be put off by the country lanes. I used to pass it on my way to work every day and reckon its a little over 10 minutes from Leigh Delamere services
www.grittletonhouseschool.org/ -

Another one we looked at was The Mill School near Devizes www.mill.wilts.sch.uk/

Also a bit further away is Westonbirts prep school. It has just merged with Rosehill so is now known as Rosehill Westonbirt. It maybe too far out of your way though.

I liked Grittleton but in the end we opted for boarding school out of the area due to our frequent moves with the Forces.

Have you visited Pinewood? I always think reports should be taken with a pinch of salt. I have a friend with 3 children there and the whole family loves it.

Prior Park Cricklade? I have no personal experience of it though.

Thanks for your replies. I will look at Grittleton, the Mill and Prior Park. Further investigation last night also found St Marys Calne, which has a seperate mixed prep school.
Jct 16 is the one nearer Swindon, not Leigh Delamere.
I also meant Sept 09 or Jan 10, in the OP,

Dauntseys?

Dauntseys says it is 11+, would like him to go there at 13 for senior school, but need do get him somewhere for 6-11, thanks beetroot!

sorry Milge
Have heard it is fab

bumping for any other wilts MNrs..

.

Am ex-Wilts but a good friend of mine is there (Marlborough area) with a son at St Frances. It sounds a lovely school. I would definitely consider it if moving back to the area.

This may be too late to be of use but my ds is at St Francis in Pewsey and is very happy there. It's a lovely school and all the teachers ds has had so far have been wonderful. Most years are full but I gather that there are spaces in year 1 at the moment.

I have to say I'm not keen on the new headmaster (and I'm not alone in this). He's been making what many parents consider to be unnecessary changes and is taking a while to settle in, but as I say the teachers are wonderful, the quality of the education continues to be excellent and the school has a lovely community spirit. I'm hoping he won't have an negative impact on that!

Have you been to one of the open days? I think there's one coming up in May.

dont say if you are prepared for ds to board or drive to school. i went to kingswood in Bath and it was the best thing i ever did. having done 12 yrs at an all girls academic school, kingswood was a breath of fresh air at 16. it focuses on the person and gave me the confidence to be who i am today. It is strong academically and has amazing sports facilities also. they have a prep dept so educate from 3-18. would strongly strongly recommend it.

I wouldn't write off Pinewood. It is one of the onyl schools in the area with a mention in the good schools guide and its exit at the other end is pretty impressive. Inspection reports should be taken with a large pinch of salt. I've known schools with great reports that have been rubbish and vice versa.

A straight run along the M4 would bring in Brockhurst and Marlston Schools nr Hermitage. Foxfield or is it Froxfield is fairly nr J14 of the M4 but that only goes to 8. St Hughs in Faringdon is meant to be good, then there is a school in Wantage called St Andrew's that goes to 11. In Newbury there is also Horris Hill.

Is St Mary's Calne not a girls school? Would def recommend Horris Hill. Have some friends there and pastoral care is really good. They will take a boy a year early, if they think he can cope, and the day boys are not treated any differently from the boarders.

We have friends at Pinewood and their children have both been there over the years. They are happy with the school. Both children went on to Marlborough. Another friend's son is going on to Abingdon.

St Hugh's has a good reputation too but is further away from Jct. 16. I have heard more rumours of snobby unpleasant children at that schoool from teachers who've taught there, but [shrug].

Appreciate this is an ancient thread, but looking for any recent experiences of St Francis prep school in Pewsey - wondered if any posters above might be able to help?