Cheltenham dwellers, come give me your views on...

[yogabird]

... Berkhampstead prep schoolin particular, but also on the best state schools. On why your dc's school in Cheltenham is fab

My DDs were both at Berkhampstead from 3-11 (the youngest is 20 now, mind, so some time ago and things might have changed). It was a lovely school, well-known for its happy children - seemed to get the balance just right between academic pace and being a place where children flourished emotionally.

One of mine went on to a local independent school (DC) on a very generous music scholarship (the music at Berky was excellent) and the other to the local grammar. If your child is academic Berky has a very good scholarship haul to private secondaries every year (it also gives scholarships at 7 for both internal and external candidates) but quite a few leavers also take up state grammar places (there are several grammars in Chelt/Glos.)

My feeling is that Berky does (or 'did') well with both academic and not-so-academic children and certainly in my day the one word everyone used to describe it as a school was 'happy' - which is probably high on your list!

The ratio of boys is much better than it used to be - nearly 50/50 last time I looked - and they do their best with sport, although sporting facilities are not their strongest point (the site is somewhat cramped as you will see if you visit.) Music as I say used to be excellent.

However, if I had my time over again, I probably would go with the state option, personally; private schools just cost so much and state primaries in mostly-priveleged Cheltenham are often very good indeed.

For a good state primary, Holy Apostles not far from Berky (at Battledown) has fantastic Ofsteds and wonderful grounds for sport, with bright and modern buildings. I know it personally and would consider it well worth a look, if you don't mind that it is C of E with a 'strong Christian ethos.'

Moved away from Cheltenham some time ago, but I agree with the above; it is blessed with many excellent state schools across the age range.

I used to teach in some secondaries in the area, and Balcarras and Pates are perhaps the pick of the secondaries, the latter being a competitive entry grammar school, the former being a comprehensive and nearly as oversubsribed.

If you're exploring private secondary then Dean Close and Cheltenham College are highly regarded, and Cheltenham Ladies College is good for the budding brain surgeons who model on the side when their charity work and international sports commitments permits.

That's my only biggest gripe about some private secondaries - the uber competitive ethos that comes, I suppose, from having uber competitive parents that pay the fees. Nothing wrong in this per se, but I would rather have been at Cheltenham Ladies College in the 1970s than today; more time to breathe back then, and less pressure.

Am considering applying for a job at Berky (do they really call it that?)Wondering whether it was the right place for me and dd's. I used to work in the area pre-children but had never heard of it. Really helpful, thanks. Anyone else got anything to add that they might know?

State schools v.g in Cheltenham. Personally I think it is a waste of money to use the private schools unless you are overly concerned with mixing with the 'right' sort of people, (in which case you may be sorely disappointed...). Most of the state primaries are very good with a fairly middle class intake (if that is what you are looking for, ie lots of pupils do ballet, piano lessons etc etc). However, generally tend to push the comps at 11, no help with admission tests to grammar schools.

Secondary schools = Pate's, super selective grammar school (and gives all the private schools a good run for their money, beating most in the academic stakes, excellent Oxbridge intake etc etc), Gloucester grammar schools, not quite as selective and obviously Chelt Ladies College, Chelt College, Dean Close, St Edwards. Balcarras, Bournside and Cleeve, all good comps. Balcarras v tight catchment area which seems to change every year (poss in order to weed out the 'undesirables'). Cleeve school does some kind of 'banding' for their intake, trying to mix up abilities.

(Berkhampstead is known as Berky btw).

bump for anyone else

Leckhampton Primary (state) is a fantastic school, but almost impossible to get into unless you are in the catchment.

So Berky was a good school, anyone know whether it still is? Thanks all for your comments so far.