Recent experiences of Bradford Grammar School for an academic and sporty child

[greentea86]

Looking for the right secondary school for our year 6 child in West Yorkshire. We are Leeds based and really like Bradford Grammar School- does anyone have any recent experience? Have been to the open day but all open days are highlight reels. It is a huge decision and we really want to get it right- we've been round to all the major private schools in the area and so far this one ticks most of our boxes. Our child is academic yet also sporty, an all rounder, but we also want the right environment and good peer influences with good pastoral care as well. In this economic climate, paying for private school is even more of a luxury and a question of 'value added' than ever before. Would appreciate raw and honest feedback, thank you.

DS is there in year 10. He’s very happy. It’s an excellent school, it caters to academic children very well and the sports facilities are excellent.
I would recommend. Feel free to pm if you want to chat more

Bradford is a lovely place

are you talking about the city itself or the actual school, which is what I was asking for feedback on?

We have friends with children there and it is definitely one of the better schools in the area if you want a well rounded but grounded child. Other options to consider are woodhouse grove and St Peter’s. The commute is surprisingly doable and quite a few from our school are moving across. The pupil and parent community both seem lovely. We have friends with children there too. Our kids go elsewhere but we are at too much of a crucial stage in their education to move them. For our youngest we are considering BGS when we no longer have to co-ordinate the older ones school routines.

Heard fantastic things about BGS especially the headmaster.!

Bradford itself isn’t great in places obviously but BGS itself is in walled grounds and the facilities are amazing. DS walks to and from Frizinghall station on his school commute and it’s fine. I wouldn’t let him do it after hours but 7.30-8.30 and 4-5 there’s lots of pupils and staff around so it’s safe.
Dr H the head is very good at his job as well as being a nice guy IMO.
DS started in year 5, currently year 10 and hopes to stay for 6th form.

If you are around Alwoodley, why not just Leeds Grammar or St Peters? Why the trouble commuting in and out of a war zone for a child?

thanks for sharing your perspective. I haven't heard anything negative yet from people about BGS, so it's definitely on our list. We are considering Woodhouse Grove, but our child is quite academic and I feel BGS might be a better fit, though Woodhouse is closer for us. We think Woodhouse might be a better fit for our younger child. We know some people whose children go there and they all seem happy.

Yes, he definitely seems very approachable and down to earth. I had a conversation wtih him during an open day a few years ago and he was really easy to talk to. Hopefully he isn't retiring anytime soon.

We're not considering GSAL- it doesn't feel like a good fit and is further away than the other two schools. Do you have some personal insights about any of these schools?

He has a son in year 8, so I’d guess he’ll stay until he has finished his education.

Not sure what the other poster is talking about- a war zone?! Have you ever been to the area?

I don’t recommend GSAL. I try really hard not to be judgemental but it’s really hard not to be when it comes to the GSAL kids and parents as every year it’s a repeat of the last and there’s only so long you can excuse it with immaturity. I say this even though I have friends with children that go there. It’s the one fixture in the year we all dread as when it doesn’t go GSAL’s way, they blame everybody but themselves and when they win, they scream, shout and celebrate in the oppositions faces. Spoilt and entitled are adjectives that reflect a lot of the behaviour.

There’s a certain air of arrogance amongst them all too. The parents are very cliquey with a lot of one-upmanship. It’s not uncommon for families to holiday together taking it in turns to host. One of my friends is regularly away on short girls trips with the mums and her husband goes on the dads golf trips too. It all sounds very high maintenance and like my idea of hell.

Our friends with children at St Peter’s are very happy. The facilities are incredible and whilst they’re not always the most competitive, they ensure every child has the opportunity to play at the best level they can with the infrastructure and expertise around them to support it. In recent times, they have been much more competitive in their respective sports than they have been in the past. I believe they’re pushing sports scholarship students too to increase the talent pool. Academia wise, I think with most boarding schools there’s a pool of students that don’t need to do well so choose not to. Those who want to do well, most certainly can as again the academic infrastructure and expertise is there.

10 years ago I would have said QEGS, Wakefield would have been the perfect option but sadly it is a school on the decline.

Sorry to pipe up again one of my BFs has children at BGS, and they’re such well rounded boys, one has left now the other is in Year 8 (the one who has left has gone to Uni at Birmingham cos he’s so sporty) just really positive feedback, lovely boys. Very encouraging sport and academics.

thanks for sharing these impressions of GSAL, I have heard very similar as well and that's definitely not what we aspire to for our children (or ourselves!).

what has changed about QEGS in your opinion? Too far for us to go, but good to know

this is really reassuring to hear, and seems to be very similar to what we have heard from others

does anyone have any insights on Woodhouse Grove recently? It didn't feel academic enough for us but seemed to have a nice pastoral feel, and the grounds are lovely.

I have friends with children there and that's my understanding. It wouldn't be the best fit for an academic child but it's nurturing