Secondary schools in Wells, Glastonbury and Street

[wombpaloumbpa]

Hi posting this here I mistakenly posted it under 'education' earlier ..

Can anyone tell me what secondary schools in Street, Glastonbury and Wells are like? We are close to moving to a village in the area with a primary we really liked when we had a look around.

It seems most kids from the primary feed into St Dunstans in Glastonbury. It looks small for a high school (500 kids) and Glastonbury town seems a bit druggy, I'm not sure on the vibe.

I know there is a good secondary in Wells but think we'd be just out of catchment so might have to move again for that. Not sure what secondary in Street is like or the 6th form there.

Can anyone share any insights please?
TIA

St dunstans was in a bit of turmoil recently but has just appointed a really good head and new deputy is fab too so reckon will be on the up. Part of a big trust now so get lots of support. Crispin in street is doing quite well. Think were about to join same trust then didn’t so not sure what happened there.

Thank you @LadyCurd !

@LadyCurd is there a 6th form at St Dunstans? Do you know anything about the strife? What kind of strife?!

Wells Blue is very good. St Dunstans always had a shit reputation.

Are you sure you wouldn't get in to Blue? I don't think they're normally oversubscribed.

Not sure about Street but the Blue will definitely have the best results.

Also, the Blue lost a few buildings due to the substandard concrete issues...parents really rallied around and find raised for additional buildings/amenities. Without wanting to offend anyone, the demographic in Wells would be better than Street and Glasto if you looked up crime etc stats.

Glastonbury is seriously weird ….move to one of the other places

Wells Blue has an excellent reputation - and when I see the children around there they are pretty much always polite and wellbehaved.

Thank you. I will have to give the Blue a call and see if we would be able to get in. I'd much rather they go there I think. At the moment they are only 5 and 3 haha but I really like to have a plan, it's a big thing moving to a new area. Got to be right.

@Kitkat1523 I've heard this over and over.. what's so weird about it?
Are the surrounding villages weird too?
Or could we get away with being fairly normal people there

The people are weird….they give off weird viBes….they dress weird…..the shops are weird….the cafes are weird…..I could never live there ….I’ve visited a few times when we’ve been in the area and it’s always been the same. I mean I don’t mind a bit of weird….we go to Glastonbury festival every year and see a bit of weird….but to live amongst it……I just couldn’t

If you'd consider moving further south the gryphon in Yeovil is supposed to be good.

Glasto is not a normal place. Most of the shops are 'alternative'- book shops only for Wiccan type book, tonnes of crystal shops, clothes shops that sell only tie-dye etc. Many of the people you see on the street are alternative too and there is definitely a druggy vibe at times. We go there from time to time and I have some affection for it for its weirdness but IMO it's not a place you could live out of.

Wells, on the other hand, is lovely and I would live there like a shot.

I find Street a bit austere- like a mill town? I don't find the grey buildings cheerful.

The Gryphon is in Sherborne and Sherborne is awesome. 😎

Ah sorry! I have a friend that lives near Yeovil and her kids go to the gryphon and are doing really well. Assumed it was in Yeovil!

@WASZPy thanks. I'd heard that school was good also. Along with the blue school. What are the primary schools like near the Gryphon? Do you know of any decent village ones?

@WASZPy right yes, that would do my head in after a while also

I think the village schools around Sherborne are all fine. They are all in the same trust (SAST) so will be run in a similar way. Thornford is well thought of. However, it's been Outstanding for a decade and not re-inspected since, so you can't really know what will happen next Ofsted.

I would say that being in Sherborne itself is good for early teenage independence. My DS has been going into town on his own since he was 10ish and now (nearly 14) values being able to walk into town to meet friends for coffee/ play football etc. He likes to be able to walk to the gym. The busses aren't great from the villages and I know it's annoying for the kids that live out to be reliant on their parents for lifts.

Sherborne Abbey primary is very well thought of and there are many benefits to living in town. It really doesn't have a very 'townie' feel.

@WASZPyi would love to ask you some questions about Sherborne - can’t work out how to private message on here. Can I email you? Mainly want to know if there is a good scout group, where do kids do swimming lessons and what is teenage life like there - thank you!

I’d look at the bus routes too, is there a service into Bristol or Bath as the villages are pretty isolating for teens otherwise. My neighbours lived near Glastonbury in a village but moved here before secondary so the dc could go to a good school and crucially had regular buses into Bristol and facilities like bowling, cinema etc within a 20 minute drive. We also have the beach which is the main teenage hang out. As much as small villages seem nice when they are tiny, unless you are a stay at home mum and like being at their beck and call it quickly gets to the point you are just a taxi.

@wombpaloumpbaI might also be able to help as we live just outside of Sherborne (and have previously lived in the town). Swimming lessons are available at the Oxley (part of Sherborne Girls School), Sherborne Boys School and there is a swim club that meets at Leweston. We don’t go to scouts but have friends with children who do, there is a group in Sherborne. My children are 6 and 4. More than happy to answer any other questions 🙂 we love it here!