Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre

I can't speak for everyone but my 3 year personal experience at the school was horrible. They don't care enough about mental wellbeing of students i'd say to them your just a robot. The expectations of the students are way too high, anxiety ridden and depressing. The system they have in place does not work, phones aren't allowed on the premises which for obvious reasons can be so dangerous and inconvienient for some pupils. I left after 3 years due to mental health because it was just way too much for my young brain to comprehend. I was taking 2 buses to school and back (about an hours worth of travelling that meant I had to wake up at 6am and get home at 5 not to mention the bad sleep schedule) just to learn nothing in the day except how slow time can go. Didn't have any friends, couldn't even eat in the canteen because all the seats were full so I had to continuously eat in the rain outside in the cold. The clothing standard is ridiculously strict, once it was snowing and as soon as I got into the classroom the teacher told me to remove my coat (they aren't allowed inside) my fingernails were blue and my whole body was numb, I obviously couldn't concentrate on my work properly; I couldn't put my PE hoodie on either, we weren't allowed. Notice how i'm using the word 'allowed' a lot? That takes me back to my point of us being treated like robots, like something they can control, not thought of humans with lives. Toward the end of my journey at the school, I became closer with the head of pastoral, but that didn't help much. Eventually they failed me and my mental health took a turn for the worst and ended up in hospital. Because of them. It's been 2 years, however a couple of people I knew when I was there have made it clear that not much has changed. So i wrote this as a warning to students who are thinking of going here. It may be a good experience, but i'd just like to share my mine just in case. Thanks

The school do not bother to tell you your child hasn't turned up until its too late, it's now 11.15 and I've just been notified about my son not being there. This is the second time they've made me worry sick wondering if my child has been hurt or kidnapped or anything just to be told they made a mistake and he is there. Absolutely disgusted with the school and I will be taking him out and putting him with a school that can be trusted.

School is full of bullying which teachers will do nothing about, some teachers and lots students are both homophobic and transphobic and pick on those students, there are no morals or anything there it isn’t a great school at all

Good facilities available for students however a lot of bullying and abysmal help for students with disabilities with little to no empathy shown by the staff in charge. School will give extra support to those already doing well but ignores students who are getting bad grades.

Good school overall. 5 stars.