Best villages around Gloucester

[hellogg87]

We are moving it Gloucester from the US in the summer. We are not at all familiar with the area and won't be able to visit before we move. So I'm doing as much research ahead of time as I can. My husband will be working in Gloucester and my children will attend King's, and we don't want to commute more than 15-20 minutes. We are also not interested in living in Gloucester city centre -and would also like to avoid suburban developments. We like what we've found east of Cheltenham, but we're nervous about the traffic. What are the best villages in the vicinity? Good schools don't matter, just looking for a place with some charm. Any insight is appreciated.

Upton St Leonards wouldn't be a bad option or Churchdown - both very commutable to the city centre if you're set on Kings and close to the business park. Coming from Cheltenham to Gloucester city centre every day would be madness.

I know a few kids at King's from Painswick, Stroud and Amberley. They all go on the school bus, it collects them. Are you sure you need to drive your child there and back?

@clarrylove I did see the bus was an option. My child is quite young so I'm not sure yet if that's a good option for her. Do school buses have age minimums in the UK? Any idea how long the bus trip might take from somewhere like Painswick??

What can you all tell me about Churchdown? What kind of commute would that be to King's? Is it considered a nice village? Does it have any character, or is mostly just suburb extension of Gloucester?

Oh goodness I couldn't advise against kings as a school any more strongly.

It was an absolutely horrific school.

@queenofkale What did you not like about it? So far everyone I've talked to only has very positively reports.

Admittedly a while ago and not just in the junior school but there ethics remain the same I believe.

Horrific bulling going on for years which led to one girl being hospitalised on multiple occasions and the school really only made the situation worse. It was incredibly institutional, teachers were involved with the teasing. One girl nearly died.

I later discovered that they lied about the reasons for other girls leaving and it had happened over and over again for years. The school were more interested in covering it up than attempting to address the situation.

Honestly I would never send my children there, I know lots of the teachers are still the same (although different head) I cannot believe an institution where such serious and severe situation were so rife and never addressed will ever change.

You'd have to ask King's about ages for the bus but I didn't realise your oldest is only 4. That might be too young. I would imagine 30 mins minimum from Painswick. If you are really keen to live in a village, it might be nicer for your children to go to the local school and playgroup. It will be the heart of the village and will allow them (and you) to make friends. I live in Stonehouse and love it. Right next to Wycliffe (independent school) and close to beautiful villages (the Stanley's, Uley, Haresfield, Eastington etc), right on the canal, and very handy for the motorway (15 mins to Gloucester business park) and has a mainline train station to London in 1.5hrs. Ticks all boxes for us.

How long ago was this queen?

10 years. So as I say a long time.
But I have heard about similar experiences since. The schools primary concern is to cover up and hide any unsavoury incidents rather than support victims.

I can categorically say that isn't true. I don't want to say why but it I know first hand. I am so sorry for your experience. I can only talk about what I know which dates from probably around the time you left. I think things have changed a great deal since then.
I am so sorry for your horrific experiences.
My daughter went to King's and largely had a happy time there. She wanted to leave in the 6th form for a state school in Cheltenham - she was utterly miserable there and bullied badly for the first time in her life.

Just to be clear, I am not saying that queen's experiences aren't true. I meant it isn't true now. I am so sorry for your experiences queen. I can only speak from my experience which post dates yours, and has been much more positive. Every school has its failings, and I can believe that at the time period you are speaking of I wouldn't be surprised at your experiences, unfortunately.

Clarry is right about Stonehouse and Wycliffe and the short motorway journey to the Business Park, I did wonder if that would be an option for you.

I also know of someone who left King's. If you have not visited the school yourself to get a feel of it I really wouldn't rule every other school out at this stage!

Churchdown seems nice, between Cheltenham and Gloucester and has some good schools. Presumably you will be renting when you come over, because then you can look around and decide before you buy. Are you looking for rental properties already, they can be hard to find!

I think this is going to be very difficult until you are here - and I really, really would not fix on a school until you've visited. I know an in-year admission will be difficult for the state schools and there are a number of private schools in the area.

Something to consider for secondary is the fact there are 4 great grammar schools in Gloucester... I went to one of them and it's routinely one of the best in the country always out performing the independents.

Great with pastoral stuff as well (held me together when my alcoholic mother creating chaos at home *)

My sister went to a private school in Cheltenham and was bullied and got terrible gcses. Grammar schools are free too

• a whole other thread. But wanted to make the point that they're not aggressively academic... mine was very good at the welfare stuff too