Severn Vale Competitors

Cirencester College is a post-16 education provider based at the heart of the South Cotswold in the town of Cirencester. It has a strong reputation for good quality apprenticeships, bespoke training services and skills for work, serving employers in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. As a specialist post-16 provider, the College offers the widest choice of sixth form subjects in the region and an extensive enrichment programme. It also offers a growing range of adult education courses.

BGS is a thriving independent day school, taking children from Reception through to the Sixth Form. Over the past 10 years, the School has greatly strengthened its academic, pastoral and co-curricular provision, culminating in the highest ‘Excellent’ rating across all categories in the ISI Inspection report in October 2015. Student numbers have risen steadily as our reputation has grown across the city and the region: for the start of the 2017/18 academic year, the School is effectively full with waiting lists in some year-groups. The financial strength this brings has allowed the Board of Governors to invest in new infrastructure, the highlight being the opening of our 1532 Performing Arts Centre in September 2016, named in memory of our foundation year. We continue to be ambitious in thinking about how to expand and improve what we provide for our students. For example, implementation of our plan to introduce the International Baccalaureate into the Sixth Form is well advanced, and we are making good progress on significant additions to our sports facilities. Looking further forward, we are exploring ways in which BGS, its staff and its students can play a wider role in the community that is Bristol and its surrounds.

Wycliffe promotes a pioneering spirit and encourage individuals to flourish and embrace their futures as global citizens Wycliffe College is the perfect blend of place and culture where pupils develop and flourish from the Nursery Class through to Year 13 with options for day, flexi and full boarding. Our diverse community, exceptional facilities and individualised learning approach allow all our pupils to thrive while we pride ourselves on offering excellent pastoral care so each and every individual is supported and cared for. We combine academic learning with a wide range of extra-curricular activities; encouraging every child to try something new and reach their full potential. We inspire and educate every individual – this is not just an acceptance of difference, but an encouragement to be individual. Wycliffe has long been associated with outstanding pastoral care and in recent years has seen its academic reputation rocket with a new focus on securing high achievement while maintaining that pastoral excellence. Pupil progress is outstanding with the school appearing in the top 2% for A Levels and top 10% for GCSEs in the University of Durham’s value-added analysis for three consecutive years. The school does not set artificially high entry criteria and is largely non-selective. The school has a progressive outlook, values traditions and yet embraces new ideas where they are shown to support children’s development. ICT facilities are excellent and co-curricular opportunities abound. With excellent sports facilities and superb coaching, the school punches well above its own weight in major sports and has held one or more national squash championship titles for several years. Wycliffe is set on a beautiful greenfield site on the edge of the Cotswolds, yet has a main line railway station a few minutes’ walk away and the M5 five minutes by car.