Hoping to move to Lansdown, Bath -will I get children into St Stephens?

[Johanna79]

Hi, has anyone tried to get their kids into St Stephens in Bath? Looking at their admissions policy it seems that children who attend church get priority...Im not religious and wont go down this route, but hope to buy a house really close to the school so would I have a chance of the getting the boys in? If not does anyone know of any other decent schools nearby?
Thanks

[BathesInAssesMilk]

I thought about St Stephen's (a few years ago, mind) but found it a bit too startchy, which wouldn't have suited either of us. I think I made the right decision but this is based on ds and the way he is, rather than anything against the school, iyswim. I have friends who felt (and did) the same, and others whose children are as happy as Larry there and are doing very well (none of them are churchgoers btw - unless they've been going in secret!).
A lot of parents send their dc there prior to private secondary, which might (or might not) appeal to you.
There are plenty of very good schools in Bath btw, but St Stephens is the only one in Lansdown itself. I would say however that unless you have to move to Lansdown that it is bloody expensive and there are many equally nice and far less dear areas to move to.
The council publish admissions criteria every year, with figures detailing the criteria under which children were offered places in previous years.
Here's a link: Primary Admissions www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/educationandlearning/Schoolsandcolleges/schooladmissions/Admission s2009-10booklets.htm

[BathesInAssesMilk]

I screwed up that link, sorry! There are characters in the URL that stop it displaying properly, but it still works I think.

As an aside I did bump into an artist friend who described St Stephen's as too academic - he felt that the arts and creativity generally weren't given enough time. He was thinking about moving his dc - he didn't though so it couldn't have been that bad.

[bathmum]

I know nothing about St Stephens, but would say that, having spoken to many mothers at Toddler groups over the years, all the following are all regarded as good schools in/around Bath:

Bathampton Primary
Bathford Primary
Widcombe Infants
Newbridge Primary
Oldfield Park Infants
Weston All Saints Primary

Oh, and not to forget Bathwick St Mary's, but again, v difficult to get into, and same church going policy applies.

Good luck!

[Johanna79]

Thanks for you're help. Had the offer accepted on the house in Lansdown, so going for that, will try to get them into st stephens, if not will try weston I guess, do you know of any good nurseries that side of town at all?

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

I think if you live in Lansdown you should get them in - have plenty of friends in Fairfield Park (further away) who get their children in (without being church attenders).

The other good school within fairly easy reach of Lansdown (uphill on the way home, mind!) is St Saviours in Larkhall - generally thought of as v good (although I understand that the primary is seen as less good than the infants - a bit odd because almost all the same children transferring across...)

Re: nurseries, I think Snapdragons in Weston is pretty well thought of, and has a really lovely big garden for the children to play in. Not sure of any others, though - not really my area.