Secondary schools in Cheltenham

[NewtoChelts]

Hi
we have the opportunity to move to Cheltenham from France in this coming September. As part of our decision process we are looking at secondary schools for our son who would be integrating Year 10 and starting on his GCSE path. We want to find a good school as although his spoken English is good he will need help with writing for essays etc and integrating a new school system.

we have seen great feedback on Balcarras and Leckhampton but I have already had one reply back saying that at Leckhampton there are currently no spaces. So we are casting our net a little further. Can you give recent feedback on Pittville and Bournside? From looking on the web there seems to be a big difference with the academy schools but I would like some real world feedback.

Don’t want to do the grammar school route, I did it and excelled but I know it would not fit my son.

Considering private schools as well but the cost is so high wondering if there is a real return on investment and how my son would fit is, he is not at all used to that kind of environment.

Thanks for any advice you can share

Could you look a little further out? If you were near to Bourton on the Water, Cotswold School is excellent.

Balcarras may also no have space, and you need to be living on the doorstep to get a place. Because of this house prices in the area are at a premium. Pitville can be a bit hit and miss. Some years it’s good other years it’s not. Cleave is meant to be good

There is a problem with school spaces in Gloucestershire and you will probably find that all the better considered schools are full and have waiting lists.

The most highly regarded schools in and around Cheltenham are Balcarras and HSL.

The Cheltenham school to avoid (based on reputation) would be All Saints Academy but this is likely to have space and may be the school you get offered.

Bournside, Cleeve, Pittville are all good schools. You could also look a bit further away like Chosen Hill and Churchdown.

Manage your expectations though, you’re unlikely to be given much choice as all but ASA in Cheltenham are likely to be full with waiting lists. Many children in Gloucestershire are being offered schools considerable distance from home - Tewkesbury and Newent often have space as well as ASA and Gloucester Academy. All have poor reputations although this may not be necessarily fair.

Yes it's unlikely there will be spaces at Balcarras I'm afraid. Bournside is massive (I think it's by far the biggest comprehensive in Cheltenham), and like a lot of schools I hear about bullying issues. All Saints demographic isn't great, but the staff are very committed and it has good facilities.

If you could afford private St Edward's (close to Balcarras in Charlton King's), is cheaper than the others as it's a day school only. It's also small so easier to cater to the invidual.

Schools are tricky in this area because the Grammar system skews it all.

Thanks for your reply. Bourton on the water looks quite far out, we would be working in churchdown so about 35mins. Would also prefer to be in Cheltenham for my son so he can get out and about by himself.

Thanks. I like the look of St Edward’s and it is definitely cheaper, do you have any personal experience ?

Thanks. Cleeve looked ok but it seems a bit like a dormitory town and I want my son to be independent for going to activities or meeting with friends etc. Can you tell me what Cleeve town is like?

Yes I have a child in year 11, so currently doing GCSEs. We didn't set out to go private but as I say senior school options are tricky here. It really suits him though because he's better in a smaller environment where he can't hide - which is what he would probably choose to do! But also because it means there are more opportunities, he's taken part in so much, it's been great for self development and self confidence.

My nephews all either went or are at Cleeve and have done very well.

My son went to Churchdown which he really enjoyed and also did very well. In Churchdown there is also Chosen Hill which has a good reputation.

If you will be working in Churchdown you might as well go for Churchdown School or Chosen Hill. I can guess where you will be working. Think more Gloucester than Cheltenham to make life easier.

Cleeve isn’t really a town, more a suburb of Cheltenham with a smallish street of shops. Churchdown might not be in Cheltenham but there are excellent bus links to Cheltenham and Gloucester so your son can travel independently.

Thanks. When did your son joint the school? In year 7 or after ? I am concerned about the maths and English assessment that they require, particularly the maths as my son will not have the correct English terms to be able to understand the questions let alone answer.

Thanks I did look at the two schools in churchdown but was concerned about some of the comments in the ofsted reports and some online comments. We plan to visit in June so could maybe take a closer look then.

If you're going into Y10 be aware that the option blocks have been set/ allocated already in all the state schools mentioned above - the whole school newsletter included this info for us back in Feb.
Your child may have more options/ choice at somewhere like St Edwards.

My friends in Churchdown tell me Churchdown is more sought after than Chosen Hill these days, and their kids have done well there.

I agree with above that the only school likely to have places in Cheltenham is ASA and it struggles with its reputation, even though its facilities are only probably second to Leckhampton due to its age.

The assessments are really only to place them in the right group and to see if they need any extra help. I've never heard of a child being turned away on the basis of the assessment. Obviously with the language barrier that will be taken into account. They've definitely had lots of children for whom English is not their first language. My ds was very friendly with a French boy there, he was sad when the family went back to France.

Cleeve is actually Bishops Cleeve and growing massively with new houses being built all the time. It’s more a satellite suburb of Cheltenham. I think on the whole it’s ok, but to get into Cheltenham the main route in is next to the racecourse, nd really busy particularly around race meets and hell on earth around Gold Cup week mid March

Balcarras and HSL are great schools but yes, they are probably full. However I think you can appeal and go to panel - I know people who did that last year.
Bournside is often considered the poor relation to the above schools, but I know several parents there and all are happy with it. It is a truly comprehensive school with a more varied demographic than the first two schools.
AMA and Pittville are less well considered.

If private is an option, St Eds has a good reputation for the pastoral side and small classes will probably be beneficial. Also Kings - it's in Gloucester but they run buses from Cheltenham.

Whichever school you go for/get, it may be worth setting up some private tuition to get the English language written skills where they need to be - I've known people do that successfully.

Best of luck.