Secondary Schools Bristol and surrounds

[OlderKiwiMum]

Hi
We are looking at moving to the Bristol area next year from Australia. My son will be 12 and I assume go into Year 8 in September. I have no idea on the following and would love some advice please.

1. How do I get a SEN document that will state the school I would like my son to go to? He has a diagnosis of Level 1 ASD and will need additional support to transition.
2. Are there any schools with an Art specialisation or a really good reputation for Visual Arts as this is an area he is gifted in?
3. I am interested in Fairfield High School, Gordano, and Backwell, but as we will be renting Im not sure what areas are good to live in. This is all really doing my head in as we wont arrive until August and then only have a short time to get everything in place. Thanks for your help

Hi there
The first thing to do is to make sure that you have the school year correct so before applying check this with the council.
The second thing that you need is an address in the Bristol area. You can't apply to schools without one.
Thirdly if you move in August the schools will be on their Summer holidays and it's unlikely that a school place will be sorted for September. Ideally you need to move in early July.
In answer to your questions:

1. The document is now called an EHCP. However it can take months to obtain one so unlikely that this will be in place in the short time you have available.
2. There used to be schools with specialist status but being gifted in the specialism isn't usually linked to admissions. There is no school in Bristol with this specialism.
3. Fairfield High school is within the Bristol LEA. The other schools are all in North Somerset.

Where will you/ your dp be working? The ease of the commute and price will probably affect where you will be living. Bristol LEA will be able to let you know which schools have places available in your child's year group before you move. however there are some city schools where there are waiting lists so going for the most popular schools may not be the best option.

Thank you for that information catsndogslife. I read somewhere that even though you may live in the catchment area you may still not be able to get into that school, is this correct? Are schools further out of the centre of Bristol easier to get into? My fear is that I decide upon a school that best fits my son's needs and then he doesnt get in there even though we live close by. He would not cope with travelling far to another school. I will get in touch with the LEA and see what they say.

I don't know the procedures etc but I have two DS's who have been to Gordano, one finished 2 years ago and one is in last year of 6th form there now. I think they expanded it a bit so I don't think anyone in catchment area was turned away and they also take a few from outside the area. It's been a decent school for my 2, but I don't know about ASD , also mine didn't take Art

Bristol and North Somerset LEAs should be able to give you a list of which schools locally have spaces available in your child's year group at the moment. But the issue is whether those spaces will still be available in August (or not). There are no guarantees.
If you live within Bristol itself I would suggest adding Cotham school to your list as well as Fairfield.
Yes it's possible to live in catchment and for there to be no places available at the catchment school. But if you live in Bristol there is unlikely to be far to travel to another school. The LEA may offer help with travel given your child's needs.
The birth-rate is slightly lower in some rural areas and I would say that of the schools you have listed Gordano is most likely to have space. However I do not know whether or not this school is good for pupils with ASD.