Good Secondary schools in Cheltenham/Glos

[thelightsareon]

I'm looking to move house soon and want to make sure that the area has a good enough school.

We have looked at houses in the Painswick/Cranham area - what are the schools like in Stroud? Would DC have to go to school in Stroud?

What about schools in Gloucester? or Tewkesbury and Cheltenham for that matter?

[Barbeasty]

This is the information for secondary schools in Gloucestershire, with details of catchments and entrance criteria etc, for 2011/12: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/utilities/action/act_download.cfm?mediaid=32542

Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham all have grammar schools if that's something you are interested in. They don't have catchment areas, so you could apply to the grammars in any of the three locations.

[thelightsareon]

thank you

[CrispyTheCrisp]

A number of the grammar schools are single sex, so your DC's may not be able to attend the same schools (even if they are all able to pass the test IYSWIM)

From memory, Pates (chelt), Denmark Road (Glos), Stroud High and Marling (Stroud) are all pretty good

[EvilTwins]

Pates is excellent, and has lots of applicants. Denmark Road is girls and has a good reputation. Cheltenham has a number of well thought-of comps as well - Balcarras and Bournside are good. You wouldn't be in the catchment area if you lived in Cranham though (although you'd have posh neighbours -Lily Allen has just bought a house there, apprently) Check the info on the website barbeasty suggests. Cranham is in the catchment area for Brockworth Enterprise School, which is in special measures at the moment.

[Greenshadow]

Hi thelightsareon.

We currently have children at secondary schools in Stroud.
If you are not looking at Grammars, the top Comp is currently considered to be Thomas Kebble in Bussage.
Not quite sure where the catchment area extends to in the north, but think it covers the countryside just south of the Cranham area.
From the Painswick area I think that Archway in Stroud would be the catchment comp. Don't know a great deal about it but friends with children there seem quite happy with it.

Would happily answer any specific questions you may have about schools here.

[2ManyPimms]

Having lived in Cranham (and moved away to avoid the Brockworth secondary school), I discovered that you can apply to attend Cirencester Deer Park school which has just been given an "Outstanding" report by OFSTED. Cirencester is about 20 minutes away from Cranham. Your DC could also attend Archway (mixed reviews on this school) in Stroud.

Cranham is a super village which although lacks a certain visual charm, more than makes up for it with community spirit and inclusion!

Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions!

[Barbeasty]

I know people in Brimscombe didn't get into Thomas Keble for this year, so the distance was pretty tight.

[Greenshadow]

Brimscombe children will have got a place at TK in the end, Barbeasty.
Like us, they were originally told they didn't have a place, then GCC allowed TK to take in all the extra children that lived in the catchment.