Best high schools in Newport Gwent?

[Kazzawazzawo0]

Once my house sells I'll be moving to Newport. I'm looking at schools at the moment, dd is 14, going into year 10. Initially going to be fairly central, NP19 7.. postcode.

We don't speak welsh at all. Can anyone recommend a school and maybe an area for renting later, although we will definitely be based in NP19 to start with and I don't want to move too far away.

Bassaleg Comprehensive.

Thanks, I'll take a look at it, not sure of catchment areas at present.

NP19 you'll be closer to Caerleon Comprehensive which has a new head who was deputy at Basseleg

Caerleon seems to have a good reputation. Anyone know where the catchment area ends?

Catchment here

my.newport.gov.uk/ishare/mynewport.aspx?StartEasting=328923&StartNorthing=185796&StartZoom=50000&Layers=secondcatch

But it needn't matter as if they have a place in the year group you can have it IYSWIM. If the year group is full then it does matter as you'd need to be in catchment.

Historically both Basseleg and Caerleon were the best performing schools in Newport. No mystery as they have the better catchment areas. Caerleon had the same head for many years but recently there has been a bit of chopping and changing but I know everyone is pleased about the new head and I imagine now would be a good time to join the school as there is sure to be a positive vibe.

Both schools have pretty old buildings as the council rebuilding programme seems to have started on the most challenged schools and left these 2 until last. Caerleon has relatively few kids on free school meals so their funding is lower and and think it does struggle with that.

It is quite an aspirational area and the school has had a grammar atmosphere. Sixth form is competitive to get into so if you are not a 3 or 4 A level student you have to go to college.

Thanks, that's really helpful.

My eldest goes to Bassaleg. It's huge and a bit impersonal, but I've been really impressed with some features, especially the music dept. The buildings are shockingly bad though.

They have to do compulsory short course GCSE in Welsh in either year 9 or year 10? Not sure what the provisions are for someone who hasn't studied it. Apart from that you don't need Welsh at all.