Independent Schools Leeds / Bradford

[FailingPerfectionist]

Hello!

I'm new to posting on Mumsnet but have been reading lots of helpful info on here for a little while!

We are relocating to Yorkshire and I wondered if anyone might be willing to offer thoughts or opinions on Independent schools in the area? We are looking around Rawdon so Woodhouse Grove and GSAL have been highest on our agenda so far.

Thank you in advance!

There's Fulneck in Pudsey. No experience but a friend works there and she really enjoys it. Obviously that might have no bearing on the quality of the school!

Thank you! I had missed that, thought it was near York for some reason.

Very interesting. I appreciate you taking the time to post.

Primary or high school, and what sex children?

Woodhouse grove doesn’t have as good an academic reputation as Bradford grammar school.

GSAL every time!

GSAL and Bradford Grammar have a better academic reputation than Woodhouse and Fulneck

Really depends on what you’re looking for in a school.
Smaller indies - Froebelian (Horsforth), Moorlands (Weetwood), Richmond House (Headingley) all up to 11/13. Friends all say they’re great and have excellent reputation for getting into GSAL/BGS
Gateways is a lovely small school and they go all the up to 6th form - reputation isn’t as good as GSAL/BGS but the class sizes are max 16 and has other advantages.
Then of course there’s GSAL, academically amazing but is very large - was the right fit for my son but not my daughter who suited a smaller environment.

Thank you everyone, our sons are 8 and 6. Ideally, we’d like a through school to 18. They are currently in different schools and it’s becoming increasingly impractical. Hoping we can find one school that will work for both but our older one loves to study and much more academic whereas little one is more than capable but needs plenty of physical outdoor time to let off steam.

All really useful information, thanks again!

Woodhouse Grove would seem to be the obvious choice then; it's a good all rounder, lots of sport especially rugby.
Bradford Grammar is excellent, more academic than WG and good sport.
GSAL is the big hitter, not as good results as Bradford last time I checked the league tables but still excellent, does everything well. It's a bit of a tough environment and may not suit a sensitive child, but that said my friend sent her DD there at 11, she's very quiet and she's thriving.
Also consider Ashville College in Harrogate, doable from Rawdon, traditionally where the sporty kids went but they are on the up academically as well.
Personally wouldn't consider Fulneck, it's a tiny school and the facilities are from the 1980s. Said to be very nurturing though.

Another vote for GSAL, although it is years since mine was there. Fab for sporty, bright DS1, too much for DS2 who needed a less pressured environment.

GSAL is the only one I'd really rate.

BGS gets the vote from me (slight bias I’m an old Bradfordian). I loved it there, and feel I had a thoroughly well rounded education. There’s plenty of encouragement in all areas of achievement, but I never felt “pressured”. I’m still pretty heavily involved in careers etc to this day just to give a little back.

Bradford Girls' Grammar is really good too. They even taught me where to put the apostraphe!

Sorry its boys oops!

All really helpful, thanks!

I love the idea of the small numbers at Fulneck but worry about how sustainable that is?

We’re planning on visiting GSAL, Woodhouse Grove and BGS.

There's a big difference culturally and academically between GSAL / BGS and WG / Fulneck. It wouldn't be a choice between GSAL and say WG, they're not the same sort of animal.

Thank you, I appreciate they will be very different. We have previous experience of a lovely, nurturing non-selective school then moving to a demanding academic environment.

I’m hoping we’ll be happy with WG as I worry my older, academic son is vulnerable to feeling the pressure that will come at the Grammar schools.

We are very lucky that he is intrinsically motivated and a big believer in “personal bests” but we have struggled to find a more nurturing environment with good resources where we are now. I guess Fulneck might feel like that based on feedback from a local friend.

Of course, I’m very happy to hear different views if people disagree!

Bradford Girls' Grammar is no longer independent, it's now a free school and has changed a lot over the past 10 years.