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?

One of DC finished BGS 6th Form having previously been at CHS (they moved as wanted to do a particular A Level which CHS didn't offer at the time). They are very academic and now attending Durham Uni. Had a very bright cohort in their year at CHS, and also loved their time at BGS. We were very impressed with the attainment at BGS - fantastically supportive teachers, great opportunities available, lovely camaraderie amongst students at house events.

My other DC is still at CHS (has some SEN), and it's been a great place for them - currently on track for grades we never thought were within reach, again their teachers have been so kind and supportive of their needs. Lovely pastoral care.

We don't live in town, so never considered city comps, we live near a fairly well regarded comp, and who knows, it may have had the same outcome, but for our DC with SEN, I think they would have been eaten alive TBH, so we're happy with our decisions.

Good luck, it's a very trying time making the decision- you don't get to try again, do you? A friend said to me that whatever decision we made, it wouldn't have been wrong, and I took quite a lot of comfort from that.

Thank you. DD went to Colston’s Girls’ before it became Montpelier High. We were very happy with it but she wanted to mix with boys for sixth form, hence the move to Cathedral Sixth Form.

@EmmaStone sounds like you’ve had a great experience at both CHS & BGS. It feels like such a big decision. You just want happy children, but you also want to set them off on the right track. I really hope when the time comes we’re happy with our decisions too - though if it doesn’t go to plan hopefully we can swap.

Could you try to get a place at Backwell, always been a good school, again lots of friends happy with St Katherines. Do you go to church? If so St Mary Redcliffe is excellent. I've worked at Ashton Park and I liked it. Tbh how well your kids does is about parental support and encouragement. Going around Bristol's private school ask about their drugs policy, how many kids they have expelled, what they do about it, I'd rather have a school which acknowledged the problems it has than hid them. Same with mental health, how many days absence due to MH, how many referrals to CAMHS? just because you are paying doesn't mean the kids are happier or choosing better lifestyle choices

@Allotment123 thanks for your post. We’re definitely not close enough to Backwell catchment to be in with a shot. Those are all great (& slightly concerning) questions.

@Allotment123 was also going to suggest St Mary Redcliffe.

I know a fair few people with children at Ashton Park who have done really well. Although it does have a bad reputation locally.

It's maybe worth looking at Oasis Temple as an option, if going in Sept 2025 then there will only be three years in the school.

Does anyone know which Bristol private &/or state schools have a strong art department?

I thought Cathedral art looked good, and also SMRT.

On other points - BGS will naturally have highest results as they only offer to / take in the brightest children. It's just as much to do with the cohort as the teaching.

Backwell - my friend took their DC out due to bullying. Also who wants to live in Backwell.

Ashton Park isn't perfect but I know lots of children there doing well and v happy.

St K I think generally it's a lovely school and I was really impressed by sports and library there.

I also have friends v happy at Collegiate, QEH AND CHS but BGS is more academic.

Wow, thanks Wordau you seem to have insight on lots of schools!
We viewed Cathedral, Ashton Park and some privates. Still trying to make a decision and not enjoying the stress it’s inducing 😂.

We looked at Ashton Park & St Katherines and whilst we liked both for different reasons,we overall liked AP more. Our daughter is in her first term now and having a really positive experience. She is always joining clubs and activities. We've not regretted sending her there. It's definitely a lot better than it used to be.

Genuine question as I have family in Bristol with young DC. Moved from london. I have lots friends who moved their from london. Why are Bristol state high schools deemed to be so bad?!?

I'm unfamiliar with schools in Bristol but if you are happy where you are living and the main issues that the state schools have in your area are results (so the students are happy, there aren't behavioural issues etc) then I'd probably go for the state option but prepare myself to be quite hands on with DC education (just things like knowing the syllabus in each subject for each year as well as sourcing good free online help and also be prepared to check that your child is where they need to be) and consider paying for tutoring in key subjects. Best wishes

Because a large proportion of secondary schools have results below or significantly below the national average.

Interesting as seems to have been like that for some years then? In most areas there is often one school with low results but not all.

Haven't investigated it to be honest but I would imagine most large cities to have these issues? Lots of children with English as an additional language, poverty, high levels of SEND.

It's the schools in the better off areas of the city that get better results.

My daughter is at Ashton Park. It went through a bad phase with a series of head teachers in a very short space of time but it seems to be back on an even keel. She’s in Year 11 and her predicted grades are pretty good so I’m hopeful. PM if you would like any more details.

Also to add my daughter is doing art and I’m no expert but I think the level is quite high at AP.

Bristol has a high ratio of Private schools, which hasn’t helped the state sector & families have often moved out of central Bristol to get into catchments for Backwell, Nailsea etc. I would say this trend is changing (depending on area) and some states are improving. Combination of house prices, fees, catchment area, headteachers and demographics have meant some schools are seeing real improvement.

@Champagnesocialistbristol Thankyou. Hadn't appreciated high % privates so yes that'll very quickly impact state results. If privates take the higher performers in the main..
Sad but true.

@whiteboardking I think there’s an element of holding your nerve, knowing that whilst the results haven’t significantly improved yet, based on the catchment there are bound to be improvements in the near future. It is so area specific though, what part of Bristol have you moved too?

I haven't moved there but family have with young children. They'll possibly feel the pressure to go private. Or move area. That's why I was curious why they 'all' had had a poor reputation for some time, but not just one or two of the schools.

I think the thing is the wide disparity - they're either pretty great or really not! Although agree this is beginning to change. It really does depend where you live, and there are two new Oasis schools opening/open but not on their permanent site as well and obviously results won't be available for them for a few years.

My DC went to a similar Bristol school to Ashton Park. Lots of great things about it, introduced DC to some amazing extra-curricular stayed and definitely gave them the experience of being in a very diverse social space. So lots of strengths. But it wasn’t what you’d call an academic atmosphere and although DC did fine in GCSEs, he could have done a lot better. Yes there were a couple of kids in his year of 250 who got a string of 9s, but that was exceptional. So if that sort of thing is important to you, I’d suggest going private, or moving to catchment of Backwell or Redland Green.