400 children miss out on places at popular Bristol secondary school
More than 400 children have missed out on places at Bristol's most popular comprehensive school.
There were three children chasing every place at Redland Green School – and even 41 children living in the school's catchment area have failed to gain places there for September.
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This is in spite of Bristol City Council reducing the size of the area this year to try to give parents a more realistic idea of their chances of getting in.
A further 17 families living in the school's area of second priority – which was part of the original catchment area – have also been unsuccessful.
The shortfall is revealed as more than 3,500 parents in Bristol receive their secondary place allocation letters this week.
The figures show that Redland Green, which is recruiting its fourth intake since opening in 2006, received 606 applications for its 189 places or 3.2 applicants per one place.
Demand was also high at neighbouring Cotham School, with 592 applications for 180 places, and at the Anglican-run St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, with 494 children chasing 216 places.
The most oversubscribed schools were the two former fee-charging schools that became academies this year, Colston's Girls' School and Bristol Cathedral Choir School.
BCCS had five children chasing every one of its 104 places and CGS four girls for each of its 112 places.
But there were encouraging signs too for three of the four schools that have been rebuilt under the Government's Building Schools for the Future Initiative.
Demand for places increased markedly at Bristol Brunel Academy in Speedwell, Brislington Enterprise College and the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe.
Armando di Finizio, principal of Bristol Brunel said he was delighted.
He said: "This can only be good for the community. The more people that believe in the school, the more the morale of the community is going to rise."
John Matthews, principal of Brislington Enterprise College, said the increase in demand showed that parents appreciated the new "schools within a school" approach.
He said: "Parents are making positive choices for Bristol schools now. It is very encouraging."
Another new model that is showing early promise is Hartcliffe's Bridge Learning Campus, a £37-million project bringing together learners aged three to adult.
The other academies that launched this year – Oasis Brightstowe in Shirehampton, Oasis Bristol in Hengrove and Merchants' Academy in Withywood – are also pleased with their rise in first-preference applications.
But in north-west Bristol, the figures are set to cause a fresh outcry from families who say the £36-million new secondary school was built in the wrong place.
Campaigners believe it should have been built on the Stoke Lodge playing fields rather than in Redland, where it took in many pupils who were already served by Cotham School.
Since Redland Green opened, many families have moved into homes close to the new school, believing it is worth paying the higher prices they command rather than paying more than £9,000 a year for a child at an independent school.
This led the city council to cut the size of the catchment area in half last year, although it has always made plain that even a home in the area of first priority was not a guarantee of a place.
Bristol City Council has received 301 more applications from city families than a year ago, which indicates that fewer families are looking outside the city's boundaries for education. It says 94.5 per cent of children have been allocated one of their three preferred schools and everyone has been offered a place somewhere.
In South Gloucestershire, the most oversubscribed school was John Cabot Academy in Kingswood, with 421 first-choice applications for just 160 places, leaving 261 children without a place.
Bradley Stoke Secondary School had 233 applications for 180 places.
Two other South Gloucestershire schools were oversubscribed – The Castle School in Thornbury, which had 279 first-choice applications for 270 places, and The Ridings High School in Winterbourne, where there were 338 first-choice applications for 302 places.
The South Gloucestershire schools with the lowest proportion of first-choice applications to places were Kingsfield in Kingswood, where there were 98 for 210 places, Filton High School, with 108 for 210 places and Patchway Community College, with 113 for 224 places.
South Gloucestershire Council has received 3,081 applications from its residents for its secondary schools and says 97.85 per cent have been given a preferred school.
North Somerset had 2,214 secondary school applications and was able to give 95.9 per cent offered one of their three preferences.
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by Miss, Henleaze
Friday, March 06 2009, 1:30PM
“There is a shortage of schools in the area I live in, the closest school is Monks Park which is actually a very long way away from where I live.
Incidentely L.W my son left there last year with 11 GCSEs at A* A and B, so if you do have to send your child there I am sure he/she will be ok as long as they want to work, but good luck and I hope you can get the school you want.
I am annoyed that the school was built at Redland Green so close to Cotham School. As Boris Lot says they all walk to school but that isn't the argument. I am sure that before this school was built most of the parents in the area would have sent their children to one of the local private schools as it is a very affluent area.
I just don't think that it is right that where I live in Henleaze there isn't actually a secondary school in the area at all, (apart from the 3 private schools but I can't afford to send my children there!)
They have shut down at least 2 comprehensive schools that I know of in the north area and not built any new ones apart from one in the nicest area of Bristol that no one can get their child into. It is disgusting.”
by Paul, Redland
Friday, March 06 2009, 9:19AM
“None-Ya one example in one hundred years does not prove anything. Go to the cells in any police station or in any pub to talk to the sad drunks. Most would have failed at school.”
by None-Ya, brizle
Friday, March 06 2009, 12:51AM
“education is over rated, look at albert einstein (performed badly at school)... amongst many others of the like”
by L W, Lockleaze
Thursday, March 05 2009, 5:05PM
“I never said that english being a second language was a problem but it is also not an excuse for poor exam results. I just like most parents want my child to have the best education possible. Unlike the one I had to endure in the 1980's”
by Michael, Bristol
Thursday, March 05 2009, 4:56PM
“LW lockleaze,I am afraid that English being the second language in our schools is a fact that many parents will be faced with in the years to come.”
by L W, Lockleaze
Thursday, March 05 2009, 4:52PM
“Cathy north bristol I have actually visited Monks Park and many other schools in the search for a school for my child. And when asked about exams results the head teacher just completely changed the subject. If exam results are so poor because english is a second language then this applies to most other schools. And every other school that we visited were proud to let people know their results.”
by Mandy, Bristol
Thursday, March 05 2009, 4:31PM
“I agree with the comments about attitudes from the children, but also, as was the case with my son, he was bullied and as a result he kicked back at the 'system'. His senior school (The wonderful Brislington Enterprise College!!!) just instantly looked at him as a trouble maker and wrote him off! He was never stimulated educationally, as he is very intelligent and was bored, schools should be able to encourage and help troubled children, whatever the reason, although from what I have seen having 3 children go through the senior school system, it is too easy to lay all the blame at the childs feet, child being the operative word, and not offer the 'professional' help they should.
As a rule of thumb, Bristol schools perform very badly, just look at nationwide result tables, this cannot all be down to the kids/parents, I have seen really s**t attitudes from more than a few teachers. No, places cannot be offered to all the applicants, this is obvious, but with the choices available in Bristol you can certainly see why parents get disappointed and frustrated!”
by Pamela, Filton
Thursday, March 05 2009, 4:28PM
“LW Lockleaze,the ONLY way any so called poor school will improve is for the
Parents of pupils attending to push their children,and by getting involved with the school,by pushing I do not mean out of the house when Mum and Dad want to watch the television.”
by Cathy, North Bristol
Thursday, March 05 2009, 3:56PM
“LW Lockleaze - have you actually visited Monks Park School? Both my children attended this school and left with very excellent results - my daughter is now studying psychology at university. Monks Park is only the "worst" school because of exam results but it is incredibly difficult for students with english as a second language to pass GCSE English or Maths. Education is not just about exam results it;s also about individuals achieving their best and if a child comes into school with low attainment it is very difficult for any school, even John Cabot, to get the results that schools are judged on. So if a child leaves school with 4 grade d's and they have worked to the best of their ability then this is a success and should be celebrated.
Your point about teachers not wanting to stay at Monks Park is simply untrue - the school has a very low turnover of staff because they enjoy working there and helping the students achieve their full potential.
Dr Holman, the headteacher, should be congratulated on the difference she is making to children in the local community - with the support of her staff and governors the school is definitely on the way up but problems can be fixed overnight.
So before you dismiss Monks Park for your son/daughter maybe you should visit the school and see what a great place it is for staff and students alike”
by L W, lockleaze
Thursday, March 05 2009, 2:24PM
“Can someone tell me why my child had to take 2 tests for a school he was never going to get into(john cabot) ? We really only had one choice of school. It was fairfield high or the worst school in bristol Monks park (where not even the teachers want to stay). Every other school that i would have liked to send my child too was oversubscribed.”