Thank you Phina. Yes I really liked Coopers so did DS, my favourite of which I vistied. I don't know anyone with children there but was a bit put off by the HLTAs taking many of the classes and the incredibly high turnover of staff (not heresay, was told this by the school). Problem is the distance as we are unlikely to be offered it living that far out.
Nearest Cleeve Park and Hurstmere. These are schools that I do have knowledge of and have asked around current students and parents. He is likely to be offered either of these as we are so close. Son didn't like either so this is not at all helpful, nor are the comments from the students/parents!!!
We were taken around Cleeve Park by a boy and girl combo, which was great to get both sides but they told us about the fights, rubbish science department and how much they both hate school

which really put my DS off. They do have a good transition program.
Hurstmere open day was ok. We returned for a tour which was awful, the teachers weren't engaging at all, we saw at least 7 boys stood in the hallways on a timeout system, tiny canteen (not a big deal but wondering how they cope with all the boys getting in an out at break/lunch), we witnessed a very shouty teacher in the corridor really laying into a boy. Plus I hate the idea that the year groups are separated at lunch time (this is school where very close friend was a teacher and said they regularly have boys fighting so segregated the kids a few years back to help with this)
The head talk was interesting as he stated clearly that the results would be worse than from mixed schools didn't reflect a boy's school as girls bring up the results which made sense.