Primary schools in Bath for relocating family

[LittleItaly]

We relocating from central London to Bath, where we have family (in Lansdown) and have been visiting for decades. The BIG question is schools. Our 2DS are in Y1 and Y3 in a small, private London prep, crazy money for what it offers. I am keen on co-ed, day only, same school for both, being sorted until 18yo would be a plus as not contemplating moving again. DS1 can get anxious, DS2 is more academically ready. We are a double income family, international, so would appreciate similar background and inclusive environment (good to make friends in a new area).
Names that have come up with online research and hearsay are Kingswood, King Edward, Paragon We are down for all the (now virtual) open days.
Any insight/first-hand experience would be mostly appreciated. Thank you a million x

If you will be living in Lansdown either Kingswood or St Stephens CofE primary would be the obvious choice. Honestly, I wouldn’t discount the excellent state primaries in the city.

thank you GlubGlubGlub, I think DH is inclined towards private education. do you know anything about the types of parents? I hear Kingswood senior has a new head, tho not sure how important it is for the prep [embarassed] also, any insight on facilities, sports, etc?

I know people who have had lovely experiences with King Edwards and Kingswood, not so great with Paragon. I’d say the first thing you need to find out is if they have places for both kids. In year state school applications can also be a huge pain if you want the more desirable schools like St Stephens, Bathwick St Mary or Widcombe.

Kingswood is lovely (friend’s kids at senior and prep there) and fantastic pastoral care. New building and lots of outdoor space.

Don’t think a new head of senior school makes any difference to the prep as they are on different sites run independently. Also with all of these schools just because you are in the prep does not mean automatic entry to senior. They still have to go through the entrance exam process.
I know a lot of people who had kids in state primary who moved to private senior, all nice people. But Bath can be quite cliquey and is very middle class, there are quite a few entitled parents and competition between private schools.

Sorry OP I don’t know anything about the private schools other than that Kingswood has an excellent reputation. To be honest most of the locals send their children to the state primaries and then maybe private for secondary. Nearly all of the parents at the private primaries will be Londoners/ international.

Thank you everyone for the insight.
OP what do you mean by "Bath can be cliquey"? TBH am a bit anxious at relocating
Also, if a child in one of the private preps wants to go on to the same senior school, is it any easier or really back to square 1?
thank you!

Kingswood great but not as academic/driven as KES.

Biggest issue is probably which side of Bath you live otherwise will spend a lot of time sat in traffic, even toll bridge now costs £1 each way.

Not true that most of primary kids international/London.

To get from Primary to Secondary usually internal exam but not known a student fail, different to London as schools expect to be able to get their own students through.

Bath not very ethnically diverse, maybe that’s what cliquey means?

thank you whatsnext2.

I like the idea of pastoral care for an anxious boy relocating, any specific examples of what that means?

I guess next steps are visiting the schools to get a "feel" for them, and check which ones can accommodate both DS [fingers crossed]

@LittleItaly because Kingswood has boarders the pastoral care is quite good.

I think definitely visit both and see what feels right.

Schools tell me they do/will not accommodate transfers during the year. Does anyone know how real this is?

Just to update, we have visited both KES and Kingswood and liked different things about each. We are now lucky/ incredibly fortunate to have an offer for DS1 both schools, one for the current school year and the other one for September. DS2 is also in. So, it is (lucky to have) decision time! My husband thinks DS1 would be happier at Kingswood, but KES would make him more successful long term.
Help any fresh thoughts?

There hasn’t been much mention of the Paragon school, perhaps because it isn’t in Lansdown. We live in Lansdown and our DD has been at the Paragon...it’s a really fantastic school and I would completely recommend it. The school run is pretty quick in the morning as you can drive through the centre of Bath so no longer than 10 minutes. In the afternoon it’s about 15 minutes to get back. Hope that helps!