The Richard Pate School

Since 2006, Robert MacDonald, previously head of lower school at Cheltenham College for seven years. Hails from Canada where he studied for his master’s in education at St Mary’s University, Halifax, then taught for a decade – including five years as

Most join at 3+ into the nursery or at 7+ into year 3. Some arrivals in other years, including mid-academic year. Academically non-selective, but year 3 joiners attend an assessment day, and all year groups are encouraged to do a taster day. One-form

No secret underground tunnel (metaphorically or otherwise) to Pate’s Grammar, despite what the locals think (and to be fair, the school was part of Pate’s until 1946, hence the shared name). Far from it, the sheer breadth of senior destinations is

Bursaries up to 100 per cent for existing pupils whose families fall on hard times.

It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived at the low-rise pastel blue fronted building on the edge of leafy, residential Cheltenham, but the bleak weather did nothing to stop these cheery pupils rushing from their cars towards the staff welcome

Not a case of ‘come here to go to the grammars’ but ‘come here and let’s find out where is best for your child’. Considered less elitist than some other local options, the school also stands out for its excellent teaching, extracurricular, family