Any advice please on Badocks Wood primary school

[Tombokola]

Hi, we are moving to Bristol this week. We will be leaving in Henleaze. One of my sons got a place to start year 1 in Badocks Wood Primary School. I don't know much about the school. Does anyone have kids at this school? Are they happy there and are you happy with the level of education and behaviour? Thanks

I live in henleaze and I only know the gossip I hear about Badocks Wood, so no direct experience! From what I've heard it is improving, there's been a lot of money spent and the head teacher and other staff, as well as the facilities, are supposed to be very good. It does sound like they do have some problems improving as much as they would like, as some of the parents don't value education as much as they could. A friend of mine who looked around it (a secondary school teacher) actually rather liked it and would have been happy with her son going, although he ended up somewhere closer. We didn't look round it as we have schools closer and were fairly confident of getting into St Ursula's.

There's still a bit of snobbery around here about Southmead. Another local school, Horfield C of E was undersubscribed a few years ago, got a fab new head and is now doing amazingly and massively oversubscribed. Hopefully Badocks Wood will be the same. I also hear great things about the nursery in the associated children's centre.

Depending on whereabouts you are it might be a bit of a trek from Henleaze. Are you considering putting his name down on a waiting list for some of the more local schools (Henleaze Infants, St Ursula's, Horfield C of E, westbury park etc depending on where you are living)?

Hope none of this makes you worried, it does sound like a school on the up so could be pretty exciting for you to get involved with.

Thank you Wrigglebum for your reply. We have just moved to Henleaze, round the corner of Henleaze school but Badocks Woods is the only school that has a place for my child who is starting Y1 in September (according to Bristol City Council). It was not one of my preferred schools. My older son got a place in Henleaze Junior so I still don't know how I am going to do to take both children to different schools in the morning! We are not sure now if to send him to Badocks or private or home schooling while he is in the waiting list for Henleaze. Thank you again.

TBH I'd be more worried about the trek of getting there than the school itself at the moment. I'm not surprised there were no places, but I'm sure one may open up at some point with luck. I guess there's just the worry of moving and maybe having to move again, depends on what your DS is like I suppose.

I imagine one benefit of private would be maybe different hours that may help with the double drop off. Or you could keep private as an option if it turns out you don't like the school and aren't getting anywhere on the waiting list.

Hope you enjoy it here, I love Henleaze!