schools in Cheltenham

[mizu]

Don't want to get slated for this and i am not a pushy mum but.....
DD1 (DD2 in Sept) go to a primary in Cheltenham. As far as i can see from inspection reports the two secondary schools near us which are great are Pates grammar and Balcarras. Thing is Pates says for every 1 place there are 8 applications and we don't live in Charlton Kings where Balcarras is so are not in the catchment area - we live about 3 miles away from the school. Bourneside school doesn't have a great Ofsted report and that is the other school in our area.
We currently rent as we can't afford to buy so would it be worth moving house in a few years time to get a place? Do people do that?

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I think the current catchment area for Balcarras is less than a mile, measured from the Reception area of the school, so quite tight and probably pushes house prices up. Don't know it personally, but has got fabulous Ofsted and Good Schools Guide results so imagine well worth a move if you can afford it. Could you carry on with your present primaries if you moved?

(I think Pate's is for genius children btw!)

Bournside is pretty well thought of, AFAIK. My girls are starting primary this Sept and I think we're in the catchment for Bournside - I'd be happy for them to go there. Chosen Hill (Churchdown) also has a good reputation. I think (from a friend whose daughter will be doing it next year) that if you choose for you DCs to sit the 11+, then they will either get into Pates, if they get top grades, or will be offered one of the schools in Gloucester if they get good marks but don't hit the top grades Pates wants. I may have misunderstood, but that's certainly the impression I get. Where we live (Hatherley area) kids from our estate go to Pates (well, there's about 3 of them...) and then Chosen Hill and Bournside in equalish numbers. I think a few may well go to Balcarras as well - not 100% sure of all the uniforms.

My eldest dd has just left Bournside and has done very well there, she is now at Uni in Cardiff. It did have a good reputation and the sixth form is still great, but it has suffered recently with other local schools closing and behaviour problems creeping in. That makes me sound like a complete snobby cow i know and I'm really not, but I have noticed a difference in the school from when DD1 started 7 years ago to when she left last July. And I teach in a very tough school so I know the problems they might face.
But having said that DD2 is starting primary in Septemnber and as we live five mins walk away from Bournside thats where she will probably go eventually.
But if you want to get into Balcarass you do need to live close to it to stand a chance.

Thanks for all replies ladies, yes, we could move while the girls are in the primary they are in i guess, like i said we rent so can move anytime really. I hope i wasn't coming across as snobby too and never thought pre children that i would think about and worry about blooming school places. Yes, i teach in Glos and there are good grammars there too. Pates does seem to be for the very bright. I work with someone whose 3 chidren ALL went there!