Looking for good secondary and 6th form schools in Bristol/Bath Area

[zjw100]

Hi - we are moving to the Bristol Bath area in July from Los Angeles. Don't know the area at all, husband will be working in Bristol but we can live anywhere commutable really.
Looking for a school (co-ed ideally) for my two boys. One is 14 and the other 16 (he will have to drop a year and start A'Levels). Looking for recommendations on good state and also private options.
Thank you!

Bristol is a nightmare for traffic so I would start with where in Bristol he’s working. Unless using train?

I am not sure all schools would take your elder son into the ‘wrong’ year; privates and sixth form colleges more likely to be able to accommodate, but worth checking with individual schools.

Monkton Combe worth a look

The office is in Redcliffe. No idea where or what that means for traffic

I am hoping that he will qualify for 'mitigatig circumstances' if we go state school route, as he hasn't been in school (homeschool zoom) for a whole year due to the pandemic and there is no way he would be able to start mid A'Levels. just not even possible.... but agree, its risky, so looking for recommendations of school in both sectors and will contact them to find out feasibility of it all. All very short notice....

Traffic at the moment is fine and who knows what it will be like in six months. Look at redcliffe sixth form, st brendans, North Bristol as starters (if not private).

I live in Keynsham (midway between Bristol and Bath). There's good public transport links to both cities, bus and train. Also buses to Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport which is some distance from the city and isn't served by train.

Keynsham has Wellsway school, iKB academy and Broadlands Academy.

Based on not a lot, I get the best vibe from Bristol Grammar School, out of all the private schools in Bristol. It's co-ed, which I favour.

If you're Christian, or open to the Christian values then St Mary Redcliff could be worth a look. It's quite near the station if that's a plus?

I would say, if you are "city" people, then look at schools in Bristol but otherwise, I would possibly say look at schools in Keynsham and BANES (Bath and North East Somerset). Eg I imagine Chew Valley School catchment is more rural.

Kings wood in bath (private) - sister attended and various folks I met at university, always heard good things

St Laurence in Bradford on Avon (comprehensive) - great comp in lovely town (I grew up there and know loads of people inc myself who went to the school)

Loads of choice in Bristol itself

Entry to sixth forms to take A levels is usually based on GCSE results and I don't think they would take new pupils until September. Overseas equivalents may be taken into account. I know that St Brendans sixth form college has a programme for students relocating from overseas and a very wide range of subjects.
Bristol grammar school (fee paying) has introduced the IB programme in their sixth form alongside A levels which may better fit a transition from the US system. The faith criteria for St Mary Redcliffe doesn't apply for sixth form entry, but they have an early deadline for applications.
For the 14 year old in-year entry would be possible.
The only single sex schools in the Bristol/Bath area are for girls so all other schools would be co-ed.

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is an excellent state (non fee paying) school. St Brendan's sixth form college might be able to be flexible about entry age? And have a good reputation - more of a mini campus than a school. If you are going to live over towards Bath, look at Wellsway, Oldfield or Beechen Cliff. The commute to Bristol is OK by train but a bit annoying by road. Most of the Bath schools are pretty good.
Lots of ways to compare them here
www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables

but choose your area, filter for secondary/post 16, add schools to your list and then compare - the 'progress 8 score' shows how much 'added value' a school gives (not just getting good results because it has an intake of relatively higher socio economic advantages)

Beechen Cliff is all boys but mixed sixth form. State.

Beechen Cliff was rated inadequate by OFSTED in 2018 and has effectively been closed and is now under new management. It wouldn't fit the OPs criteria as a "good" school.

St Mary redcliffe st form has a great reputation and for 6th form religion doesn’t play a role in securing a place.

Cathedral also central and v good

Redland green good rep

Beechen isn't closed? I work there sometimes. I didn't used to rate it because of that ofsted and subsequent press but actually I think they do a good job pastorally and it's well rated by parents and a popular school generally. I know some year 12 girls who go there and speak positively of it. They are high achieving students at gcse.

Clifton college tends to get a lot of overseas students so is pretty good at bringing them up to speed on the uk curriculum (Clifton is a posh area of Bristol and the college is fee-paying).

Redcliffe is pretty much in the city centre. Its also in an RPZ (residents parking zone) and a proposed CAZ (clean air zone). Its probably about 15 minutes walk from Temple Meads Station which would open up a lot of areas outside the city to your search. Other than taxis the only other public transport is the buses (we don't have an underground rail system ). Lots of people cycle in Bristol despite killer hills and there's lots of cycle routes that take you away from the roads. There is a water taxi that runs the length of the harbour too.

If you’re open to getting the train into Bristol, then it’s worth looking at the areas around Chippenham, villages like Christian Malford gives access to Sheldon and Hardenhuish state schools. And the independent schools in Bath.
Living just north of the M4 eg Hullavington or Malmesbury gives you access to Malmesbury school. And Bath independents.

The train route from Bristol to Warminster, in addition to the Bath schools, also gives you access to St Lawrence at Bradford on Avon, St Augustines (Catholic school) in Trowbridge, and Warminster and Dauntseys (independent schools). There are lots of pretty villages and small market towns around that are within easy reach of the train line.

Would anyone be able to share their views re secondary independent schools in Bristol and Bath that would suit a musically talented but averagely bright girl? Probably looking for something a bit more nurturing than a BGS or KES. We don't currently live in the area, so much knowledge is a bit limited.

@hamper555

What about Redmaids High or Badminton? Or would you prefer mixed sex?

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@hamper555

What about Redmaids High or Badminton? Or would you prefer mixed sex?[/quote]
Good point! Would prefer mixed if possible but open-minded

@hamper555

Clifton high school would be a good option for mixed.

Also, depends where abouts you live I guess