SchoolScoresAir Balloon Hill Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Hillside Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 7PB
0117 903 0077 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 April 2018.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 November 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
89 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Bristol comparisons use the 108 of its 220 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 112 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bristol | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 50th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 71st highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 67th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied 76th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 20% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 54% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 80 parents who had raised a concern Joint 67th highest of 104 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 30% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 80% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 68th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 30% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bristol figures pool parents at the Bristol schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
88 pupils in this year group.
60% — about the same as the Bristol, City of average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 75% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 68% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bristol, City of. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 89 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 88 |
| Of those, offered a place | 82 (93%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 195 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 69th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.1% | 28.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 116th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 52nd highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.1% | 16.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 68th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.8% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 148th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 5.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 140th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 31% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 15.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 145th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 126th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 68th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 67% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.0 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 93rd highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 71% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.0 | 10.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 165th highest of 212 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 34% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.7% | 17.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Summerhill Infant School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Two Mile Hill Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Summerhill Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- E-ACT the Kingfisher School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 21% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beacon Rise Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chester Park Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chester Park Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Air Balloon Hill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Air Balloon Hill Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 April 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Air Balloon Hill Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Air Balloon Hill Primary School?
85% of the 89 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Air Balloon Hill Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Air Balloon Hill Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 88 families put Air Balloon Hill Primary School as their first choice for 89 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 82 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 135867.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.