Moving to Bristol...Help

[Aerie6]

Hi ladies,

We are currently renting a flat in London but we would really like to buy a house and we are thinking Bristol because London is ridiculously expensive and places near London have become just as expensive, we'd still have to commute to London for jobs, which is a lot of wasted time and money. We've done the math and London simply doesn't add up.

We'd like to get more value for the money when it comes to property, better life-work balance and a lively, diverse, town to grow our little boy, so we are considering Bristol because it ticks a lot of boxes in theory, although, truth being told, we are completely unfamiliar with the place. We're not the kind of people to settle down in a village or willing to spend hours commuting by car to the big cities for work.

Which are the nicest areas to live in Bristol with good childcare and schools near by? We are looking to buy a 3-bedroom house. I'd love to be part of a friendly community. Good transport links are a must as driving may or may not be an option for me. Thanks!!

Totally harry 'tis not all ofsted and academic. Good luck for your dd at Ashton Park. I'm just relieved my ds is happy where he is now. That's all that matters really.
louie aren't there several schools called Cathedral? I know there's a new one called Bristol Cathedral school which is very close to Bristol Cathedral Choir School.

Brush, St Kaths is the one we didn't look at. I think we're just too far away. Too late now anyway! Glad your ds is happy there.

There's a Cathedral Primary that opened a few years ago near the main Cathedral School. Neither are few paying.

aaah, thanks harry yeah, my ds gets the public bus with his friend. It was a bit nerve wracking the first couple of weeks. For me, not him!

Great. Thanks Harry I might consider that one as a primary when I have to look next year. Some friends went and it was fee paying then.

I'm not sure Brush, my DS is only 2 so I've only just begun to think about schools. I didn't realise that Cathedral would be an option. My only worry is not being offers a place in catchment at the moment. Some neighbours ended up in Barton Hill

This article in yesterday's Bristol Evening Post charts the massive turn around in education in the city over the last 10 years:
m.bristolpost.co.uk/Remember-Bristol-whipping-boys-education-anymore/story-28277814-detail/story.html
Bristol is a fantastic city to live in and thankfully education is much improved.

Good news Marmite!

I've heard good things about Ashton Gate, the only concern I have is how they plan to accommodate the bulge in the current primary population into secondary. My DC are part of that bulge group.

Ashton gate primary has changed beyond recognition in the last 10 years.

I have many friends with children there and my best friend teaches there. It's a great school, although it's looking more and more like a 'campus' style as different years are spread onto different sites. I'm sure it will all be good though.

Yes, Bristol education already has and is changing for the better. That's why it annoys me when people blanketedly state that Brustol state schools are "really really shit" (no-ones said that on this thread but it has been said before).

Sorry, I meant Ashton Park secondary. But yes agree about the AG primary ( ofstead "outstanding"). Southville Primary ( ofstead "good") has also expanded into a split site School into a purpose built upper school. I think Luckwell is also expanding ( another "good") I hear what you're saying harry about the "Bristol schools are shit" line that gets rattled off by everyone without any qualification. I've heard it many times, usually from people with older/grown up kids.

Oneofthose, glad you've heard good things about Ashton Park then, as I'm hoping for a place their for my dd next Sept!

Yes, the huge bulge of children that were incorporated into the primaries will have an effect. I think my dc may be just a year ahead of the bulge but it's still a worry.

Some excellent secondary schools are in North Bristol particularly Thornbury way - Marlwood and The Castle. We moved out of Bristol because of schools. Things may have changed in the last few years but we couldn't risk it!

Bristol is a fantastic city but sadly the traffic and schools really let it down.

Ladies you've been super helpful, big thank you!! Our preference is for a city location rather than outside of Bristol but we are keeping an open mind. Now we just need to find the right house... Wish us luck :-) Thanks again, you are all amazing for taking the time to write such helpful information! X