Bristol Secondary Schools - should I be considering private?

[Champagnesocialistbristol]

I’ve had friends leave Bristol for better secondary schools. Others will only consider private, stating how poor the secondary state provision is in Bristol. We’re not moving & love living in Bristol. Private will be a big stretch financially. Are the state schools so bad? But if we can stretch to private, should we?
Our secondary options are; Ashton Park, Cathedral (slim chance) or BGS (Bristol Grammar).
Any thoughts, have you sent children to any of those schools or would you send to private if it was an option?

BGS is private...but it's got a very good reputation.

Can you move within Bristol into the catchment of Redland Green School?

Fairfield, trinity? Both good, Fairfield better imo

Move into the catchment of one of the few good ones. Redland Green, or further out like Backwell school.
Private school is about to get bashed hard by labour. My ds has just finished in a private school, thankfully.

Moving isn’t an option, we’re really happy where we are.
Sorry if it wasn’t clear, BGS is potentially a school we’ll look at, but depending on VAT/ fee increases it might be a stretch too far. Not really considering single sex education ie QEH. Are yours in Bristol secondary?

I’d go private over ashton park tbh. No option to move to a better catchment? It would prob be cheaper than 7 years of school fees.

if going private Clifton high school and BGS are prob your best options. Clifton College is more expensive so not the best choice if it will be a stretch.

I know people really unhappy with BGS. I absolutely wouldn’t stretch yourselves for that.

We really love where we live - though I’m sure you’re right 🤦🏼‍♀️.

Do you have experience of Ashton Park? Seems to be improving & heard great feedback, but results still aren’t great.

Hadn’t considered Clifton High as understood less academic? DC doing really well in school. Keep hearing they’ll do well anywhere etc & although I know it’s probably true, I’ve spiralled into if we can afford private should we??

Could you expand about the issues with BGS please @KevinDeBrioche ?

Really, I haven’t heard that. Any particular issues?
I saw your earlier post but Fairfield is primary / junior. Not heard of Trinity so probably not in catchment.

Fairfield high is secondary.

BGS: big classes, ‘exam factory’, poor pastoral care, limited GCSE choices are all criticisms I’ve heard over the past five years. I don’t see teenagers ‘graduating’ from there with £50-60k worth of advantages compared to their state school peers.

Honestly, we went through all this when our eldest was Year 5-6. Bright kids with support at home do well. If they do well in an objectively ‘worse’ school they’ll do even better post-school.

We went with our catchment comp and have been really happy with it. They’ll come out with great grades, a wide group of friends across all socioeconomic backgrounds, and wider knowledge of society and their own privilege. This is worth A LOT.

If we look at BGS I’ll definitely ask questions on those topics @KevinDeBrioche thanks. Is there a Bristol Private you do think is worth it?
We aren’t in the catchment for Fairfield. Our catchment schools are Ashton Park, St Katherine’s & Cathedral (though slim chance getting in).

We have friends happy with st katherine’s and with Ashton Gate. Don’t worry, I know it feels scary but the more the educated, engaged parents put their faith and backing into the local schools the better those schools become.

DH does outreach (university professor) in secondary schools across the city and the kids that impress the most are not from the schools you’d expect.

Trinity is part of the Cathedral group and also runs a city-wide lottery AFAIK. Can’t comment on whether it’s any good though I’m afraid.

Thanks for your feedback @KevinDeBrioche , I absolutely agree & would love for state schools to be the go to for everyone. It would be so much fairer, but while that isn’t the case I feel I should investigate all options & not necessarily exclude private because I think it’s an unfair system. I’m potentially overthinking it all. Unfortunately I have some friends with children in private who are telling me about the opportunities, grades etc and making me feel guilty (that’s not their intention I’m sure).

I’m not local to you OP so someone more local will be able to comment . We started in state and moved in year 8 when it became apparent that was necessary for our DS ( his siblings did well in State) . What are the chances locally of moving later if State doesn’t work out ?

The bristol privates have all tightened their belts - years before now and before the political stuff. Class sizes are massively up - 25/26/27/28 kids in a class. If labour proceed with their plans, there is almost no way that most of the bristol privates can absorb any of the VAT. I don't think any of them are swimming in cash.

BGS and Cathedral both seem generally good from what other parents tell me. You could also consider Collegiate as a slightly cheaper but still mixed sex option. A lot of parents in Bristol seem to choose independent up to GCSE then switch for sixth form when the options become better (lots of small college-type places etc.).

Is Montpelier High in your catchment (formerly Colston's Girls)? It is now non-fee paying but it is obviously a girls only school.

@Doiexist honestly not sure about moving later. If the press is anything to go by there’ll be a mass exodus from private because of VAT/ fee increases so should be plenty of space. The potential increases are also a consideration, I’d hate to commit to something that we can’t sustain as there’s no clarity right now on how fees will change. Hopefully by the time we need to decide it’ll be clearer, I can’t be the only person deterred by this.
I'm interested did one child stay in state and the other move to private?

@ginasevern it’s not a option. Though I believe it’s in special measures so not sure I’d be considering if it was.

OP sounds like you live fairly close to me, I’m in North Somerset. DC now finished secondary, but went to BGS. I don’t recognise Kevin’s comments as I thought pastoral care was relatively good, strong focus on learning for pleasure as well as exams. They’re fairly upfront as to what kind of school they are.

I’ve heard underwhelming things about Ashton Gate annd St Katherine’s and wouldn’t have gone for them, but everyone has different experiences. Cathedral could be worth a shot, but it’s a lottery.

DC went to Redland/Cotham for A levels and it was not very impressive if that’s the best state option in Bristol. Caring, motivating individual teachers though.

If I was doing it again, I would go private and it was a stretch for us. State education sadly seems to be getting worse and I don’t see any step change in the next 5-10 years.

@paasll I thought one of the main selling points of private is small class sizes, surely that’s no/ barely different to state schools.

Yes - they weren’t in the same school though - we are in a Grammar area .

Clifton High School is solid academically - BGS is the best performing in exam results I believe but some people find it pressured.

I always forget about collegiate, it’s the wrong side of the city for us (over by ikea) but worth looking at as well.