Oldfield School, Bath

[BigBrownCombineHarvestor]

What is it like? I am in the process of moving to Weston in Bath having found a great primary school and a house I can afford.

I have now started thinking about secondaries and what I have heard about Oldfield is making me worry...but then again I am hearing these things from people who have chosen other schools so I am not sure it is reliable.

I have boys, but would prefer mixed sex and from what I can see from the catchment info Oldfield is pretty much our only option from Weston.

Anyone please? I'm very stressed. thanks

One more hopeful bump

Oldfield still has a rating of good from Ofsted. It hadn't been inspected for a long time (since 2012) before that. It was outstanding then but soon after changed to admit boys having been an all girls school. I think this put some people off as they saw it as a decline in standards. Whenever I see the students they appear to be engaged, smart etc. Think there have been similar declines at Beechencliff. Not sure where others are finding preferable.

The best thing you can do is to go and look around, talk to the head, talk to the teachers, and get a feel for whether this is a school that suits your DC. Choosing a school is like choosing a house - you often feel it in your gut whether it's right or not.

Thanks so much both. I know people with children at beechen cliff and Ralph allen. It is the Ralph allen parents who think they have 'the top choice' of mixed state school.

Do you live near there @JuniperBerry1 ?

Hi yes I'm a short distance away but not in Bath catchment. I used to be a secondary school teacher in Bristol. My friend used to teach in Haysfield prior to having her own children.

Thanks @JuniperBerry1 I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

I guess I'm hoping someone is going to tell me it's a great school, whereas all I've heard from anywhere else is that it 'isn't a dreadful school'. Maybe I haven't heard its great because it isn't, or maybe because I haven't asked the right people!

Annoyingly I can't visit because of covid.