Hayesfield v Oldfield in Bath any comments need to make choice by next week

[mrsrat]

Having been seriously thrown into the twilight zone in the Gloucestershire 11 + We have the opportunity of relocationg to Bath and both these schools are in catchment but i have to decide by the end of next week and havent even seen them yet. On paper they both look amazing so any comments would be appreciated

We looked round both of these schools last year and preferred Hayesfield. This is staying as all all-girls comp whereas Oldfield is going co-ed in September 2012 and starting to admit boys. Am not sure how this change will affect the catchment for the latter school. There will be building work on-site to update the buildings for this change.
Oldfield gets slightly better exam results but Hayesfield seems more sporty and to have better pastoral care. Hayesfield has a separate site for lower school Y7/8 and Upper school Y9+ which seemed to us good for secondary transition and to have a buddy system for Y7 pupils and was the only school we found locally to have this.
Oldfield has a supplementary application form which needs to be sent to the school but can be downloaded on-line. This form is slightly odd (pm me if you want to know more about this).
Hope this helps

Thank you so much for that I couldnt sleep all night as it is such a big decision. Have spoken to admissions dept in both and they all seem lovely . Need to find out how to pm and will ask a couple more questions thanks again

To pm me log in and then click on the "message poster".
Need to add that today is the last day of term 1 and schools don't return until Mon 31st October so there may not be an opportunity to look round before the deadline.

To pm me log in and then click on the "message poster".
Need to add that today is the last day of term 1 and schools don't return until Mon 31st October so there may not be an opportunity to look round before the deadline.

mrsrat - this info. may be too late, but, I've just returned home to Holland from a visit to 4 schools in Bath with my 13yr old DD last week (we're considering moving over there within the next 2 years). We decided to visit King Edward's, Ralph Allen, Oldfield and Hayesfield and both DD and I had the same feeling that we preferred Hayesfield. We met with the Headteacher, Ms Draisey, who was wonderfully kind and understanding to my daughter (who's not looking forward to moving at all) and she herself took the time to give us the tour of the school - I was really impressed. Anyway, good luck with your decision and I hope this info. helps!

I filled in form last night and went for..... Hayesfield so thank you so much for the info. It is such a huge decision to make without visiting the school. I am going to make an appointment next week when the school re-opens but am sure that I made the right choice.

What did you put for your other two choices, mrsrat?

It's important imo to use them.

I just put Oldfield. If we get the house we want we will be very close to both.
Am worried now should have put 3rd option now

Have you applied online? You can change it up to the closing date if so.

I wouldn't worry too much about the third choice. I put out nearest school as third just in case some freak event means ds doesn't get into his first choice and the third is full - in which case we could be allocated a school miles away that's hard to get to from where we live.

If you're close to both you should be fine I reckon :)

Hayesfield is very popular btw - parents I know with girls there are happy with it. I'm sure you've made the right choice. Oldfield used to be the one everyone wanted, but the head is a bit odd. The reason it fills up is that so many girls come over from Bristol - if you look at the school Bath girls choose it's Hayesfield.