Re-locating to Southville. Thoughts on schools please!

[Nickyjam]

Hi,
I'm a Mumsnet virgin so not even sure if this is the right way to do it - as in posting here, that is. Anyway to the point, I'm a Bristolian coming back to live in our gorgeous city after 18 odd years away in London. A North Bristol bird by nature, I've just discovered the delights of Southville and would love to hear any views or insider info you have on Ashton Gate and Southville primaries and Ashton Park secondary. This is the forever move, so although our girls are only 4 and 7, we want to future proof by moving to a good secondary catchment.
Thanks very much!

They're both very popular primary schools, so you'd want to live right on the doorstep of one or the other and be prepared to wait for places to come up. Afaik Compass Point is the only local primary school with places.

I know people with children at Ashton Park and Bedminster Down and both are happy with the schools. Some local children go to St Katherine's in Pill or Oldfield Park in Bath too.

Yay Southville! Sorry I can't be much help with schools though - dd is only 6m. All I know is that they are all oversubscribed and the primaries have a good rep, the secondaries not so much.
Secondary schooling in Bristol generally is pretty dire though

Great thanks for the info! Just called admissions and of course, there's no space at Southville or Ashton Gate. There are spaces at Luckwell and Compass Point though so wondered if anyone has any insight into those schools? thank you!

I know people with children at Compass Point. It's a good school, but probably one of the most diverse in the area (especially compared to Southville) in terms of ethnicity, social class, ability etc.

Luckwell is quite a small school and have heard it has quite a family feel due to it's small size.
Ashton Gate is the largest and has expanded it's intake.
Ashton Park would be your catchment school and both that and Bedminster Down are now OFSTED rated as Good.
There are other schools which don't have a catchment system for intake. As you have 2 girls you may wish to consider Colston Girls School (CGS) which has a banded lottery system for entry. Bristol Cathedral choir school (co-ed) has a similar system too.
The C of E faith school St Mary Redcliffe and Temple (near Temple Meads) take a lot of children from BS3/BS4 but you need to meet the faith requirements (attend church for 3 years).
So there's lots of choice for secondary schools.