Cleeve House School?

[flute123]

Hi..just wondered if anyone had any experience they could share with this school?
Thanks!

I completely agree with user1479228519 in regards to comments of Cleve House school. If your child attends this fantastic school then the improvements and academic education is obvious in the well mannered intelligent children that attend.

Not only is the lower end of the school at its highest levels for quite some years, the higher forms have also seen an increase in the number of heads. And in regards to the comment about the children not having homework every night, maybe someone should talk to me daughter, as she would no doubt raise an eyebrow and pointedly advise you that she most definitely has homework every night, plus her reading, plus her music practise.

I could go on and on but the important thing here is that this school is well managed with a high standard of education, which sees the students move on to secondary school with confidence and a great education.

If anyone believes this school in on its knees then I employ you to take a closer look and see the magic that is within Cleve House School. When I drop my daughter at this school everyday I see a happy, lively school with a bright bright future.

As a family we have been involved with Cleve House School for more than 25 years, first as parents of pupils and now as grandparents.

I was disappointed to be shown the very out of date, negative comments written on this thread. It is so easy to be vindictive when you can hide behind a assumed name.

We personally have seen so many positive changes in the last 12 months and whilst I wouldn't normally voice my opinion on a forum, I think it's time I do so.

I don't believe the person who has started this dreadful detrimental chat is a current parent of a child attending Cleve House under the new headmaster, Mr Wardle, as they would be aware of the changes their child is enjoying. From the lovely events organised by the newly formed PTA to the laptops purchased. The trips and the new mini bus.

The negative comments are their opinion and definitely not using current facts of the school as it is under Mr Wardle.

There is now an open door policy at the school, why don't you drop your assumed name and approach the school and introduce yourself, you can then have a look around, speak to the staff, children and the headmaster. You will be made welcome and your opinions can be replaced by facts.

This is a happy school, the ethos is truly one to be proud of.

Hello

Has anyone seen a copy of the ISI inspection report for this school.

Do you mean cleve house? They haven't had an isi inspection it says on the isi website.
2017 secondary destinations aren't great I wonder how many pupils they actually have now?

They have had an ISI compliance inspection in 2017 rather than a full inspection. It says that there were 82 children on roll in June 2017.
There are a few areas of concern in this report, so this may have affected numbers.
A state school with similar findings would be put in Special Measures!

Just read it. I see what you mean! Wonder why people pay for their kids to go there?

They don't meet basic safe-guarding requirements
isischools.devprocess.com/DownloadReport.aspx?t=c&r=ADD9169_20170621.pdf&s=9169

Yes and the HT owns the school. Strange set up. Only had 4 finish year 6 last year it seems, very few pupils.

Hello

A parent just told me that Mr Wardle used to be an ISI school inspector, they found out from the previous HT.

You'd think he'd be able to meet the mini requirements at his school then

Wasn’t it cold yesterday, as I looked out of my window I saw the Cleve House children, walking towards Jubilee swimming pool. Whilst outside the school stood a very underused brightly shining school minibus. Then a while later I saw the children returning back down the Wells road, with red noses and very wet hair. Whilst outside the school stood a very underused brightly shining school minibus. When is this going to be used, its getting colder day by day. This school is going down hill fast. I met with a parent who recently has removed all his children from this school. He told me that “When you leave and go else where, you realise what this school is not doing for our children” A number of parents are unhappy and speak of the glory days when the Lawsons ran the school. They knew how to prepare children for their entrance exams. I was speaking with parents whose children left in 2016 & 2017 who can confirm that Mr Wardle didn’t spend any time with the children preparing them for the entrance exams.

Personally as a parent I would be more concerned if they did use a mini bus for the five minute walk to the swimming pool. It was a bright sunny day and around 12 degrees, the children are hardly going to freeze. I have no knowledge of this school beyond living close by to it so I won't pass comment on the teaching but I really don't think it should be of concern to any perspective parent that they choose to walk to activities close by.

Them failing their inspection is cause for concern though and failing to meet basic safeguarding requirements. Don't know how they keep going they've very few pupils.

Absolutely a cause for concern, massively, and personally I wouldn't dream of sending my child there but I thought the comment about the mini bus odd given that it would take longer for the van to pull out onto the Wells Rd than it would take for the kids to walk the 5 minutes to the pool.

Hello,

Well its 4 degrees today and it takes about 15 minutes to walk to the pool. Ask yourself this, would you like to walk for 15 minutes in 4 degree temperature with wet hair after swimming? or would you like to use a minibus?

4 degrees? I'm in chew valley it's 10 here!

It was 4 degrees this morning, and BBC weather website is showing that its now 6 degrees now. Looks like Knowle is colder than Chew Valley.

There is no way on earth it takes 15 minutes to walk from there to the pool, I live in one of the roads behind the school and have frequently made the gruelling 5 minute walk myself. It's good for kids to walk now and then and better for the environment. Fine if you have an issue with the school but the non use of the school mini bus for local trips on a slightly cool crisp October day is a non issue

Both my children attended Cleve House from their early years all the way through until a few years before the change of head. It was the making of them in so many ways and not just their education but values and interests too. The SEN care was out standing as well as the music tuition, some thing that has stayed with them both. For my son being encourage to play the cello for the age of 5 has turned him in to a very good guitar player in his teens.They used to enjoy going to school rushing in every day looking forward to it, not something every child does! They still fondly talk about their years there and we all really hope that the new head does not change the core values and ethos, he has said he shall not. It was a formula that worked and the Lawson's stuck to their guns to keep it on track not bending to every parent whom wanted it their own way. How can it be possible to please everyone, one can no, do what works! Every child from both of the year 6's passed entrance exams to the top private follow on schools, most having to choose from several offers to them as mine did. The secondary schools think highly of the school because they have been so well prepared. The children I know from the school are happy, well rounded, well educated children, some now grown ups. The school had a tradition of 2 or even 3 generations from families going through the school, that was how good it was. All the old fashioned values like respect, resilience, lots of fresh air, exercise and even having a conker tournament, conducted safely, when most other schools banned them. Common sense prevailed through the school. Any bad Ofsted comments were because of that it seemed. The children wore their uniform with pride and if you don't like it or 'think it daft' as some comments on here, it really is not the school for you. If you read this Mr and Mrs Lawson our family would like to wish you well with your retirement and thank you once again for your dedication and for shaping both of our children so well. We also thank all of the the dedicated teachers we had the pleasure of working with over the years too.

Ruby4321 - what a great write up and honest and warming opinion of the school from someone who clearly knows from experience and not by looking out the window at the uniforms, school bus or walks to the swimming pool! Mr Wardle is changing some areas of the school which is the sign of the times as schooling, social interactions and educational requirements are changing / have changed from the Lawson years (and before). However the ethos of the school remains and the core values you mention in your post are still paramount as is the positive attitute and eagerness to attend school for the majority of the children who attend - mine included! I have studied the recent OFSTED report in detail and as someone who is subjected to regular compliance audits can clearly see what the findings were related to and when a change of head takes place after 25 years it is not totally unexpected. How they are responded to in my book is the key measure, and they were rectified immediately as the unannounced revisit confirmed. In summary my children love the school (and uniform!!). we were fortunate enough to have had a couple of years with the Lawsons but Mr Wardle is making subtle changes to bring it into the 21st century - without losing its big family feel!

Both my children attend Cleve House and I can’t imagine a more safe and welcoming environment for them to spend their primary years. They are developing into well rounded free thinking children.

Being part of Cleve is like being part of a family.

My advice to anyone thinking of sending their children to Cleve is to come in and have a look at the school for yourself and met Mr Wardle and his wonderful, dedicated staff. See the happy children thriving in a warm and friendly environment where they can be themselves.

The school is far from in decline, in fact the improvements since The Lawsons have gone have been significant. There is much investment made in many aspects of the schools technology and things you won’t see unless you enquiry about the school.

As for the uniform I think it’s smart and something to be proud of.

As for walking to swimming when it’s cold that’s just a nonsense thing to comment on. I see my children being active and learning a life skill everyweek from the age of 4! They have coats and hats when it’s cold and it’s not that far away.

Thank you so much, we are so very, very pleased to hear that the family feel and ethos has continued through the recent changes...hoping to see our grandchildren attend, one day in the future, being the goal!
Yes, it was like an extended family, all the teachers and staff knew all of the children. There was a true sense of belonging and being valued.
Each topic that was brought to our children was made to come alive and they were encouraged to share their experiences, say if they had visited a place or some such. History and geography still being something that is of great interest to them both still. Wow, the knowledge they gained from those years across the board was outstanding, I used to love learning from their sharing with such enthusiasm! Even from the age of only 3...they taught them so much more than the state system, we used to joke that it was like something from Dr Who, that they plugged them in for the day and they came home full to the brim with new fascinating knowledge! They were not pushing them just fulfilling their huge thirst for it all, at their own pace.
The help both of our children had with their dyslexia, and others more outside the remit of 'normal', if there is such a thing, was outstanding and has helped them through out the rest of their education and life.
We use a term in our house 'oh that is so Cleve House' or he/she is such 'a Cleve Houser', hard to explain but just such a good, kind, thoughtful, well rounded educated and well mannered ethos.
Our then 9 year old badly broke his leg skiing in the USA, in hospital for over a week whilst at the school...so many doctors and staff commented on his politeness even under extremely painful circumstances and the way he spoke and acted. Thanking every one. He thanked and shook the consultant surgeon's hand when saying good bye, some thing he had never had happen prior. Lots of them asked what school he attended some thinking it just must be one of the famous 'top' schools over here...not because of being 'posh' but of his all round maturity, confidence and politeness, a 'Cleve Houser' through and through you see?! This is something that has stayed with our children and the world needs more of. Of course it is how we are as a family and our values at home too but it sure helps when it is the same at school and encouraged in children where it may not be. Worth every penny. If your child skips/runs in to school in the morning enthusiastic to learn and play you know they are very happy and content, the rest is a bonus.

Hello,

So can anyone answer this, Where have all the children gone? This school in empty. Lets not blame the recession, no other school in Bristol is this empty. Form 5 & 6 are merged and total around 9 children. Has anyone spoken to the parents in Form 1, the parents are not happy with the current teacher. I will be withdrawing my child this year, never to return.

Cleve house is a very small school, what most parents are paying for, but possibly the smallest left in Bristol?
Many prep schools experience a drop in numbers in years 5 and 6 because most schools that have prep together with their high school automatically offer places to their prep school pupils hence bypassing the entrance exam stress and or securing a place at ones preferred high school. Both of mine's year 5 and 6 lost a few pupils this way, and only for this reason.
My eldest had a relatively large class for Cleve House about 17 I think, but there were two years merged at he school then and that was years ago. Not common though and nothing like that with my youngest when there were good numbers all the way through from kinderkarten to year 6. Having a ten year gap with my children we were at Cleve House for over 16 years.
There are always times when one does not gel with a teacher but that is the same in any school, a bit hasty to change schools over it especially from year 1 possibly? That said if it is not the school for you or yours then best to go. We have seen it go both ways over the years with 3 different schools, some pupils left and went on to be happier others came back or wished they could. I do understand if your child is unhappy and you are not happy with many issues one should think carefully about what to do.
Mine having completely different experiences with high school and with hind sight we should have moved our eldest. But even with our second and a very good over all experience there are always times you all do not agree with or like a teacher. To us after trying to sort things out it is then a suck it up life experience, you can not like or agree with every one in the world just be civil and try to find a path through.
From the other side of things if the schools tried to make every parent happy no one would be and that would be all they ever did. We have seen some pretty pushy and whacky parents over the years! Our experience with the private education system is that is the same as we have heard about the state system, each school have their own rules and ways and that is that. Find one that fits you and yours for the most part and as a parent get involved with the school as much as you can, it can be very insightful.
One last thought count blessings that we have the extra choices with private.

We were lucky, our child was not taught by the current year 1 techer. Still not answered the question, where have all the children gone. If you speak with parents in year 5/6 they will tell you that the school used to be full of children.