Primary state schools Bristol

[juliet76]

Hello everyone,
So, I know this topic has been covered and re-covered and I have trawled through every discussion, but I still have some questions that I’m sure people will be able to help with!
We live in Spain at the moment but are probably relocating to Bristol in the Summer. My DS was born in July 2009 making him 5 this year but I saw on the UK education website that he is not obliged to start primary school until September 2015 (aged 6) – is this right? Could he start at a state primary before then? I’m really unfamiliar with the UK system as he is at the French Lycée (DH is French) and they start at 3 there! Do some state primaries start before age 6 does anyone know?
Also...Bristol school and area advice would be great! It seems from reading threads on here that it is something of a nightmare and we may well think about private secondary education but that’s a long way off. Ideally I would prefer he was in a state school but neither do I want to compromise on the education he gets. I had thought of Westbury-on-Trym or Henleaze/Horfield areas but from what I can see, even these further out areas are getting seriously over-subscribed both for schools and houses and prices look beyond our capacity ?
I don’t want to settle somewhere near a good school (like Westbury/Elmlea) then not get in anyway and have to re-think the whole thing as we will be having enough upheaval moving countries and I would like to keep things as stable as possible. So I am thinking that the best options might be places like Stoke Gifford, Bradley Stoke/Almondsbury, Keynsham (only as I’ve read great things about Wellsway!), Winterbourn....any thoughts on these areas and primary schools within? Also any other areas that are worth considering? We would like to be somewhere with easy access to lovely countryside and not bothered about being near the centre really, although we will both be working in the centre so it needs to be accessible. I love the idea of a tight community feel with everyone going to the same local school and getting to know each other as here in Madrid it is all very isolated and big-cityish and people live far apart from school mates.
And finally, any thoughts on good private secondary schools? It’s hard to tell yet but DS seems to be swaying more towards the artistic side than the academic which would also fit in with me and DH character wise so somewhere with good arts/drama etc. facilities would be ideal – also sports if possible.
Sorry for the hugely long post and thanks to all so much in advance!

I cannot help with Bristol information, but you are incorrect about when he needs to start school (or be home educated by). He should have started in reception last September (the September following your 4th birthday), though you can legally defer until the term following his 5th birthday, so September 2014 for your son. In reality most people start at the beginning of reception, so his peers will have started September just gone.
He will be going into year 1 in September so it will be an application outside of the normal admissions round and most popular schools are likely to be already full. I would make enquiries about which schools have spaces and then go from there.

Agree with the above that your son would have started full-time school in September 2013 and will therefore be in Year 1 in September this year.
I do live in Bristol but not the areas you mention. Not all areas with Bristol postcodes are covered by Bristol City council. Stoke Gifford, Bradley Stoke/Almondsbury and Winterbourne would come under South Gloucestershire Council and Keynsham is Bath and North East Somerset. Westbury-on Trym is however Bristol.
If you son is currently being educated under the French system you may be interested to know that there is a French school in Bristol www.ecolefrancaisebristol.co.uk so this could be another option.HTH

Thanks for that and yes, I realised I made a mistake about the start date! He has started school already over here. Eeks re. all good schools being full....think this is going to be a real toughie. I know about the French school too but assume it is fee paying and also don't want him to be out of the UK curriculum as when he starts secondary school he'll struggle if he's had French education up until then.
Since we won't be moving until Summer we won't be able to apply anywhere until we have an address which is also going to make it harder.
Any thoughts on private primaries to cover us until we find something state?
Crazymum - any tips on good areas to live or are they all a complete scrum when it comes to schools/catchment homes?
Thanks again!

Your DS would go into Y1 next September. If you move before the summer holidays, he'd go into Reception first and then move up.
The French school only takes children for one day a week, as far as I'm aware, so you'd still need a regular primary school and organise that with them.
Westbury as an area is quite expensive, and yes, schools are oversubscribed. They are oversubscribed in most areas in Bristol, although schools have established bulge classes and added classes in recent years to be able to admit additional children.
Bedminster seems quite 'small' and not too far away from fields,... and the schools there have added extra classes in the summer, so might have places for a Y1 entry in September.

If you aren't dead set on living in Bristol itself, Somerset might be an idea. Cheddar valley (around Cheddar, Wedmore, etc.) is very villagey; it's lovely with fields, beach nearby and the places are not too big. The schools are also very good (and that includes the secondary schools). I know quite a few people, who live there and commute into Bristol.

Thanks! That's a helpful tip...not bothered about living in Bristol itself but it would have to be an easy commute so as not to make life too hard - we have been hard hit by the Spanish recession and would like to improve life quality and family time rather than reduce it further so not keen on a massive commute. I'll check out those areas too, lots to think about and once we're 100% decided on where we settle will start checking which schools have places. Thanks so much to all for advice so far.

Also what about Bath or even Exeter as potentials? Anyone have any experience of them?

Was also going to suggest somewhere in the a370 backwell, congresbury etc. lovely countryside and while I know nothing about primary there are some good secondary schools in that area. More community and rural than somewhere like Stike Gifford I think. The Nailsea and Backwell train station will get you into Bristol TM fairly quickly.

Agree that Backwell is also worth considering - many parents move there for the secondary school. This area is North Somerset LEA.
Bath has good schools both primary and secondary but the most expensive house prices!
Commuting from Exeter to Bristol would be too far imo.
The other part of Somerset (Bath and North East Somerset) worth looking at would be the Chew Valley area e,g, Chew Magna. HTH

Definitely spend some time looking into secondary schools as much as primary! Sounds crazy when your DS is only 5 but it's quite important in Bristol. Is also worth looking north as well as south of Bristol - Winterbourne, Thornbury and surrounding areas have both good primary and secondary schools. Fairly easy commute into Bristol too - lots of families, facilities and there's great park in Thornbury for the kids!

Good luck - must be a lot to think about

My children go to one of the "good schools" you mentioned. Places do sometimes become available in year one as people move around the country etc but not many. It may be worth considering that places in these schools can be easier to obtain in yr 3 (ie when your ds is 7/8 and the start of Juniors in a split infant/junior school) as they are no longer restricted to 30 in the class so strictly and some children leave to go privately. I know of people who have sent their children to Torwood House (private) while waiting for places at the school to come up.

Thank you all so much for your time and input! And thanks also for the tip from Runoutofideas about private whilst waiting a couple of years. Can I ask which school yours are at and are you happy? Also is Torwood House one of the better privates or are there others worth considering?
Thank you all again! We will have to actually physically come to the area when all is finalised and travel around a bit to get a feel of it and make final decisions - I'm a Londoner and DH is French and knows nothing of the area so yes, lots to think about gulp!

I agree at looking north too, and second Winterbourne and Thornbury. Also, a bit further out, but Wooton-Under-Edge and the surrounding areas are beautiful with a good secondary school.

P.S. Anyone know any good primary schools in Backwell? Thanks!

Have you considered the town of Bradford on Avon? We moved here (from Bristol) 8 years ago and have never regretted the decision. It has 2 very good primary schools and an excellent state Secondary School
(St Laurence). Just half an hour commute on the train to Bristol, 15 mins to Bath. It's a bustling town with lots of families and is surrounded by gorgeous countryside. Just a thought! Good luck with whatever you decide.

Also (sorry...!) is it stupid to relocate somewhere like Backwell purely off the back of the fantastic sounding secondary school when he won't be going for another 7 years?? All might have changed by then, surely?

Thanks loveinthemist; I just google mapped BoA but looks far away from Bristol drive-wise and I think this might put DH off - he hopes to open a restaurant so needs easy drive for the hours he might be coming home at at the end of the night. Thank you though - not easy eh?!

The secondary school at Backwell has had a good reputation for a long time partly because around Bristol, people pay top dollar for houses in a good catchment area! Things are slowly changing for some Bristol secondaries but results have been an issue for some time now. However, this won't be an issue if you are looking to go private.

We moved out of Bristol partly because of schools but also love the countryside where we are. Bristol traffic can be a nightmare so is definitely worth factoring in the commute too.

Where are you situated now lookdeep? Thornbury?

We are a bit further up from Thornbury just off the M5 near Charfield. Countryside and surrounding areas are nice including Wotton, Nailsworth and Stroud although may be a bit far from Bristol for you. Lots of good primaries in the area and an excellent secondary (Katharine Lady Berkeley). We've lived all over Bristol and Bath and find its much easier commuting into Bristol from this direction (well it will be when all the motorway roadworks have finished!). It does of course depend on which side of Bristol you would be working.

Juliet76 - I have sent you a pm.

Thanks ladies! Yes it does depend on where we will be working and to that I have no answer as we are both self-employed and so will be looking at where to set up!

winterbourne has good primaries and nearby hambrook/framton cotteral/frenchay also rated good commutable winterbourne under south glos council.

Bromley heath sort of minor suburb downend so close to ring rd was names best juniors in times other week but you have to live in heath to get in but other good schools within bs16 6st.

Heard good things about faith schools in bradley stoke and stoke gifford.

Stokke gifford mostly new houses but good train commutes due parkway station fast train london, wales /north ect.

Bradley stoke quite oversubscribed , has quite good senior school.

Heard god things about thornbury but bit too rural for us.

even on suburbs bristol traffic nightmare.

horfeild/henleaze nice but oversubscribed schools bishop rd, elmlea, st bons of rc.

I do know 2f rench people who send kids to french school kind of brentry way near blaise park cribbs causeway mall its private unsure of fees and is only 1 day week as tehres somene in daughters class who goes 1 day a week and the days change depending on year.

wellsway keynsham good senior not sure bout primary is ice enough town worked there again bit dull but is improving as half way between bristl, bath has a train station. It comes under bath north east somerset council.

We used to live in Bradley Stoke but escaped to rural Gloucestershire now living in the beautiful 5 valleys around Stroud. Easy commute to Bristol via M5 or train via Cam. Some lovely village schools around here (our primary has a dedicated French teacher) and we also have the Grammar School system here for secondary which is one of the reasons we moved here. Hope that helps.

Meant to add that housing is MUCH cheaper here too than Bristol.

Thank you all!