SchoolScoresOrchard School Bristol
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of AMPLIFY EDUCATION
Filton Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0XZ
0117 377 2000 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 October 2015.
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 |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bristol comparisons use the 26 of its 47 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 21 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 4th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 81% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 7th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 71% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 31 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 25 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 100% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 73 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 66% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND 8th highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 43% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 60% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 3rd highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 73% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 75% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 9%). 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
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
177 pupils in this year group.
49% — 3 points above the Bristol, City of average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 46% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 44.7 | 46.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
172 pupils in this year group.
87% — 3 points below the Bristol, City of average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 26% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 7% | 12% | 13% |
| Further education college | 47% | 30% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 90% | 87% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 175 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 121 |
| Of those, offered a place | 121 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 307 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7
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 7th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.7% | 34.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 3.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 24.3% | 17.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.3% | 20.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 32nd lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 19% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 10.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 26.7% | 28.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 33rd lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 45.4 | 37.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 36th lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.6% | 10.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.21% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 42nd highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 23% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.4 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 37th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 64% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.9% | 13.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools
- Trinity Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bristol Free School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 66% grade 5+ English and maths
- Abbeywood Community School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Redmaids' High School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 71% A*/A at A level
- Fairfield High School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Collegiate School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 39% A*/A at A level
- Badminton School 1.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 51% A*/A at A level
- Redland Green School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
- E-ACT Montpelier High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bristol Metropolitan Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Orchard School Bristol's Ofsted rating?
Orchard School Bristol was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 October 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Orchard School Bristol do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Orchard School Bristol?
88% of the 85 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Orchard School Bristol to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Orchard School Bristol oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 121 families put Orchard School Bristol as their first choice for 175 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 121 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 138448.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.