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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Bristol Primary Schools? where and when!

75 replies

rosiejoy · 14/12/2009 14:30

Ds dues to start school in sept 2011. We are planning to move to Bristol, and want to be there in time for him to start school.

I am aware it is not that simple, but beyond that I am clueless!

So, I would like to know your reccomendations for Bristol primary Schools, and one to avoid too i suppose.

And when do I need to apply? and who to???
Areas we have looked at are Horfield and Fishponds, and I would love to live in Bishopston, or around the Gloucester Road are but not sure the budget would stretch....

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Original poster

rosiejoy · 16/12/2009 13:11

what about living in this bristol.gumtree.com/bristol/47/48254747.html area

OP posts:

sarah293 · 16/12/2009 17:22

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Runoutofideas · 17/12/2009 12:48

If you search for houses on rightmove then, once you've found one you like the look of, click on the map on the right hand side, this will bring up the map but also has an option to select primary schools which will show you which schools are nearest to that address.

My dd1 started reception this year in one of the schools named in your first reply and we live in Westbury area, so I don't really know much about Fishponds schools. As I understand it though there are no longer specific "Areas of Prime Responsibility" (APRs) for any Bristol schools. Last year some had specific maps where children living within the designated area had priority over those who didn't. Now I belive it is purely done on distance as the crow flies. Bristol City Council website has information on previous years' intakes and how far away from the school the furthest lived. You need to go into the admissions booklet to find it. Good luck!

Runoutofideas · 17/12/2009 13:13

By the way you need to apply Oct 2010 for Sept 2011 and you would need to be living in your new house, or at least exchanged contracts if buying, at the time of the application. You apply through the council website www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/schools/admissions/index.html

Runoutofideas · 17/12/2009 13:17

My sister used to live in Staple Hill. She always said it had a nice community feel and enjoyed living there. It wouldn't say it's any more central than Westbury really, although maybe less suburban feeling....

sarah293 · 17/12/2009 14:26

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happywheezer · 17/12/2009 14:33

This is of interest to me too! Well done for asking the question. My problem is whether to have DS educated in Wales or move to Bristol as DH has new job in the area. Looking more towards North Somerset really, with the schools around there. (Close to Airport). Anybody any experiences or knowledge of around there too?

queenofdenial2009 · 17/12/2009 14:47

happywheezer, moved from NS recently. Felton school is closing, so Winford now very oversubscribed. I would look at Wrington and Churchill, we lived in Blagdon. Long Ashton doesn't have enough primary places and lots of kids have to go to Pill which is a logistic nightmare.

ilovemydogandmrobama · 17/12/2009 14:53

Nailsea and Backwell is supposed to have a good primary.

Original poster

rosiejoy · 17/12/2009 14:55

thanks runoutofideas, i hant realised you could like at schools on rightmove.

happywheezer, I suppose it would depend how longterm you see dh working in bristol? and if you would be ok moving schools if you decided to move into bristol in the future?

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LilyBolero · 17/12/2009 18:17

would second Nailsea and Backwell, and Secondary schools are good there too. Good rail link into town.

I wouldn't discount Westbury/Henleaze on account of being 3 miles out from town tbh - they both have really good shops, and as with Staple Hill, no need to go into town unless you want clothes, or you can easily get up to the Mall.

Runoutofideas · 17/12/2009 18:27

Think you might struggle to rent a 3 bed house for £700 in Westbury or Henleaze though - although I did see a couple in Manor Farm (off Wellington Hill West) which would get the children into Horfield school.

Runoutofideas · 17/12/2009 18:33

Also be a bit careful if a letting agent tells you a house is in Westbury as they often mislead you and use the description for houses in Southmead or Brentry to make them more appealing. Check the map and nearest school carefully.

queenofdenial2009 · 17/12/2009 20:31

Nailsea schools are good, but Nailsea is soooo boring. I think I would end up shooting myself if I lived there.

sarah293 · 18/12/2009 08:33

This reply has been deleted

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strongblackcoffee · 18/12/2009 08:53

ahem I went to Monks Park secondary, really not that bad... let's have less of the negative attitude please

paddingtonbear1 · 18/12/2009 10:58

My ILs live in Bristol. My dh went to school in Pill I think, and Portway secondary - think it was so bad they closed it and opened an academy on the site! He and his friends went to uni though and got good degrees. MY SIL lives in Southville, think the primary there is OK. Lots of good shops nearby too, and a big park. Parking is a bit pants though.

happywheezer · 18/12/2009 15:32

Ta for the reply. Husband has taken a job with bryanair in Bristol, so as for long term, we don't really know. We lived in Solihull for 5 years and hated it, even though the place was lovely. Just interested in moving to Bristol and living somewhere a bit more rural as we would in Cardiff, moving schools is never ideal and I would love just to settle somewhere! I looked at Henleaze, 600,000 for a terraced house!

LilyBolero · 18/12/2009 16:45

You will pay lots more for being in the Henleaze school catchment, and even more for being in the Redland Green catchment. However, good as Henleaze school is, it's not the only good school. You can pay a lot less by moving into the Horfield area (north side of Wellington Hill West), or the Southmead end of Henleaze (round Lake Road), or down into Westbury on Trym village.

LilyBolero · 18/12/2009 16:45

to add, I have lots of friends in Nailsea, and they really enjoy living there.

mandle1 · 04/02/2010 00:27

Just a quick rant here...I put down Elmlea, which is well in the 'catchment area' (0.5 miles) from my house and have randomly been offered shirehampton primary...2.6 miles away equivelent to 1 hour 45 minutes daily walk for my 4 year old! i am hoping mad, what an unprepaired, incompetent council.

Runoutofideas · 04/02/2010 07:15

Mandle that's bad... What were your other 2 choices? It's worth going on the waiting lists as some will drop out/move/go private etc etc My dd goes to E, whereabouts do you live?

SE13Mummy · 04/02/2010 14:00

About a million years ago I went to Filton Avenue... I notice no-one's mentioned it in this thread! My last contact with it was about 7 years ago when we were considering moving from London to Bristol as, at that time, it was definitely the sort of school I wanted to teach in.

mebaasmum · 04/02/2010 14:36

Hi Mandle arent you entitled to free school transport if the nearest availible school is over 2 miles away. Might be worth getting onto the LEA. You never know it might help get you a nearer school. budgets and all that!!

mandle1 · 04/02/2010 22:53

I live near coombe dingle and was silly enough to follow about 5 people's advice, either parents at Elmlea school or teachers who told us not to put a second choice down (everyone in our road has always got in)...the council obviously just saw it as a ticket to put us anywhere! We would be entitled to free transport but i am not putting my DD aged 4 on a bus. She will also have no local friends etc. DD is not going there, i will just have to try for waiting lists....what a stress!

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