Westbury Park / Bishops Road primaries

[sallysallyn]

Hello
Like a lot of people on this thread, we're looking to relocate from London to Bristol soon. We have a 3 yr old, starting reception 2018, and as such need to be in a Bristol address by the school application deadline of 15 Jan (as I understand it?)
From online research and lots of driving/ walking around the areas, we think Westbury Park and Bishops Road primary schools look really good and interesting. But would love a local view. Not sure what the heads are like; and the surrounding areas to live in? Hoping to meet nice likeminded parents as friends.
Thanks so much

Bishop Road head is an interesting character and seriously divided the parent opinion when she joined.

It is now largely V positive and her changes have definitely improved the school considerably. I still have DC there and am very happy with it. I don't know Westbury Park at all, but think it is much smaller than Bishop Road so probably has a slightly less busy / full-on vibe.

Bishop Road parents are a lot less mixed than they used to be, the slightly hippie vibe and creative types have largely been over run by more traditional professionals coming in - at £500k+ for a 3 bed it's pretty inevitable. But it's a friendly place and you can get as involved as you like in school life. Plenty of SAHP for coffee mornings etc and no end of places to have them on Glos Rd!

Oh, also Bishop Rd head must be in her 60s so retirement can't be far off. So I wouldn't make her your deciding factor either way.

The advice for anyone moving to Bristol is be aware of shifting catchments, check carefully the furthest distance from school that places for non siblings were allocated and don't believe estate agents when they tell you that all thr kids in the road go to x school, maybe they do but if the catchment has shifted to be 100 metres and the street is 200 metres away then you may not get a place. Speak to the council admissions t am, check what categories for entry your child would be in and where they would have got a place from x address. Also give thought to secondaries.redland green is the popular choice in that area.

Thanks very much - thats alarming (but super useful) about catchment areas! Are they really as low as 100metres sometimes?

Not for Bishop Road, although they can vary - think dropped from over 1km to 600m ish one year. You can see last few years distances for all schools on council website.

There are a lot more primary places across North Bristol now than 5 years ago and almost all the schools are good, so don't get too stressed about it.

We live on Bishop Road itself, but the other end so nearer to Henleaze infants and juniors where we got in - delighted with it - loads of outside space, great school and lovely parents.

I am not too sure what do you have against the head but I have seen the school improve 100% since she has been there. I have had 4 children going though the school and all I can say is that it is the best in the SW with the best results. The children are really happy there and well nurtured.

We're at Westbury Park and love it, it has the smallest intake of the 3 near us (2 reception classes versus 3 at Henleaze and 4 at Bishop Road).

I would have been very happy with Henleaze, and Bishop Road too but I felt a smaller school would suit ds1 better.

Beware of the small catchment areas - I think the last few years' are on the Bristol City Council website.

And it's a really nice area to live in. Dh grew up here and has no desire to leave.

Hi all. I am also relocating (with two Year 3 children) and we are working out where to live. I am ALSO debating Westbury Park vs Henleaze :-)

@sallysallyn - have you made any further decisions?

Relocating cities really is a minefield!!

...Year 2 now, going into Year 3!

Yes be super vigilante re catchment areas.... They may be tiny and Bristol City Council is not ace at counting. 330m from BishopRd was close enough I my case.

I meant NOT close enough

Yes we took the plunge and have moved to Westbury Park.. super close to the school (200m I think) so hoping thats enough to secure our little guy a slot for Sept! Loving it round here so far, really friendly area and lots of great amenties. So v happy.

Purple Mack call the schools and ask if they stick to 30 in Y3. Some are happy to go to 31 (or more) in KS2 so you might be able to get in without too much trouble.

Good luck with the move.

Thanks all - v useful.

We do intend to move as close to the school we choose as possible. It's the only way to go I think. And even then... who knows. It feel like a big risk to be upping my perfectly acceptable life to a whole new world. Where we know no one! But the time is right.

I worry most of all about getting the kids into school of course. They haven't asked for this move. But I'm a planner - and a strategist - so I'm confident I can get it right. Just hope the school gods in Bristol are listening

Hi @sallysallyn and @purplemack, we’re in same position now looking at a move in the next few months, any quick updates/tips/recommendations for negotiating this minefield?!