SchoolScoresFrome Vale Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION
Frenchay Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 2QS
0117 353 2902 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 24 March 2026 , published 7 June 2026.
In short: 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Bristol comparisons use the 19 of its 220 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 201 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 7th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 64% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 93% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 9th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 60% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 89% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 90% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 37 parents who had raised a concern 8th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 69% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 85% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 79% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 93% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 20%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
28 pupils in this year group.
57% — 2 points below the Bristol, City of average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 57% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 68% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 29 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 115 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 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 45th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 32.2% | 28.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 2.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 104th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.4% | 16.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 71st highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.8% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 91st lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 52% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 5.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 115th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 44% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 15.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 75th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 61% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 81st lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 52nd highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 73% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.6 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 121st highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 10.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 10th highest of 212 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 96% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 40.0% | 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
- Frenchay CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church, CofE Junior School, Downend 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church, CofE Infant School, Downend 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Avanti Gardens School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bromley Heath Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Staple Hill Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bromley Heath Junior School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 expected, 6 needs attention · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Begbrook Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanbridge Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Frome Vale Academy's Ofsted rating?
Frome Vale Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 24 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Frome Vale Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Frome Vale Academy?
98% of the 40 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Frome Vale Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Frome Vale Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put Frome Vale Academy as their first choice for 29 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 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 138791.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- 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.