Good schools around Horfield

[brispop]

Hi
I have moved to bristol recently and currenty staying in rented apartment at hrofield. I am looking aorund good primary and secondary school for my 6yr old dd and 12 year old ds from Sept'13. I am getting a feeling that horfield is not in catchement area for good schools. What should i do? move to other area or there is still a way to get admission to good state schools especially secondary school.

As they are classed as 'in year entry' you will need to phone Bristol City council and find out which schools have a place available in the relevant year groups. Horfield is not really in a great catchment for excellent secondary schools - I'm afraid I don't know too much about the primary. You could try Cathedral School for your son - I assume he needs a year 8 place? That is in central Bristol - it used to be a private school, but converted to an academy about 5 years ago - still gets great results, is Co-ed and doesn't have catchment areas. If you can get your son in, your daughter may benefit from the sibling link (if you son is still there). I think you would need to phone them directly. The other schools to try would be Redland Green and Cotham Grammar these are the 2 best preforming secondary schools in Bristol, and within fairly easy striking distance of Horfield. If you have any religious preferences then St.Mary Redcliffe is Cof E and St Bernadettes is Catholic - but on the opposite side of Bristol from Horfield.

I think I read that the sibling link holds for the Cathedral School, even if the elder child is in the sixth form - so looks like that would work for you , but I know if is very over-subscribed. You may have more look looking for a year 8 place though.

thanks. yes my son needs place in year 8. i applied to bristol city council. redland green is full. bristol free school - no response since school is closed for holidays and bristol metropolitan academy - council asked me to apply directly to school but their website says admissions are coordinated by council.

i will approach cathedral school. Will shifting to other area help?

Moving closer to a school would only benefit you in terms of being higher up the waiting list if you wanted a particular school. It also depends on how far out of the centre you can live. There are some good schools a bit further out. For example, Winterbourne International Academy, Bradley Stoke Community School and John Cabot, but they are all 5/7 miles from centre. They all fall under South Gloucestershire so may be worth caling them if moving is a possibility.

thanks. We are not particular about staying close to the centre. my workplace is near parkway station. Admission to year 8 this September in any good school is matter of luck. I don't know which area -school gives us best/better chance than others.

In which case Winterbourne or bradley stoke would be great choices if either has a year 8 place. Primary schools good in both areas.

thanks. i looked at bradley stoke community school admission list. it says it has been receiving more applications than available seats. should we gamble by shifting to bradley stoke/ winterbourne area or wait for school offered by the bristol city council.

Well I would probably try and speak to someone at South Glos council on Monday and find out what position is on either of those two schools. I find it hard to believe there isn't some movement at either. They are both oversubscribed for year 7 entry but that has no relevance on year 8. If a space has become available now then there is no reason not to offer it to you. I'd go and have a look at the areas and see what you think. They are nice family areas and plenty of good primaries and good local facilities.