Dorset - primary and secondary schools recommendations please anyone??

[dorsetbound]

Hi all, we are moving to Dorset in January from Cheshire. we'll be living in the Canford Cliffs area.
My daughter is currently in year 6 and is very anxious about the move.
So we are now looking at schools... The Junior schools are all over subscribed apart from some faith schools and ideally I'd like her to go to a mixed secondary school.
Does anyone know what the Bournemouth Collegiate Prep School is like and also their senior school? I can't find any review about them. There is Buckholme Towers but she'd only be there for one term and then what as the grammar schools are not mixed. I'm looking at Castle Court but wonder where she'd go after 13? Their feeder schools look far away from CC.
Any advice from anyone would really help. Dorset is so gorgeous and I think we'll have a great quality of life. It's just quite daunting moving so far away from our current village and community that we've been in for years.
Many many thanks in advance
Emma

I would go Castle Court then Canford.

Have you considered Parkstone Grammar? I believe it has a very good reputation (or at least it always used to)

Thank you for the advice

I have but my daughter really wants to go to a mixed school. I heard all the grammars are brilliant but the move is already stressing her out and i'd like to keep as much the same as we have here as possible. SHe's got a lot of "boy" friends. Thanks for the tip though

I should add that Parkstone is linked to Poole Grammar the boys school just up the road, so even though not mixed I know they do quite a lot together

I'm sure you won't regret the move-Dorset is just stunning and the area you're going to be living is really lovely

Dorset is glorious, by the way. You will love it. We've been here 3 years and I've never been so happy.

Agree with Castle Court then Canford if you want mixed. Not heard anything good about the Collegiate butba fair bit of bad.

Thanks for the tips! Yes we're really looking forward to living by the sea!

What have you heard about the Collegiate postnotinhaste? I also heard mixed reviews. Thanks

Lots of drugs and not very motivated children, teaching patchy. Maybe though I only know people who know people with negative experiences.

This is a move I am also considering, I know the areas well, however currently researching schools and see a mixed range of comments where are the drug problems? Do u mean in schools?

Hi - first time poster but felt compelled to add a perspective as a parent of 2 kids at BCS as I feel it needs to be more positively reported. Kids loved castle court and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. We looked at Canford and the Grammar schools and again we know friend’s kids who are there and they are undoubtedly great schools - but we plumped in the end for BCS - predominately because of the flexibility they offered - children play reasonably high level sport and we needed somewhere that would support them in sports outside of rugby / cricket / hockey etc - and how grounded it was. Whilst we await GCSE results for no. 2 shortly - we have been really pleased with BCS. Eldest child secured results equal to or better than best in grammar / Private school and done well athletically - and been supported to be a kind, fun, sociable, rounded and generous person with a great relationship and respect for the teaching staff.. what more could you ask for. They’ve both made some great friends from UK and around the world. Oh and to be clear - absolutely no issues that we are aware of Re: drugs. Hope that helps

Hiya
We moved from London to Dorset last year (Bridport) although I cannot offer advice on your particular area I can say the difference in schools this way are huge. The school my DS goes to is fantastic. I think Dorset has a good education system. Good luck x

I live in the same postcode as canford cliffs and have done for years. Lilliput/baden powell are amazing state infant and junior schools if you are in catchment. They have very high rates of grammar school progression. Around canford cliffs the private schools arent significantly better so it is well worth looking at state too rather than instantly ruling it out because there are several round here which are just as good as the private ones.

There is talbot heath girls school which is private and also very good. Plus ballard which is mixed BUT probably not up there academically