SchoolScoresThe City Academy Bristol
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of CABOT LEARNING FEDERATION
Russell Town Avenue, Bristol, BS5 9JH
0117 941 3800 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 April 2019.
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 27 November 2024: 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
59 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 2nd highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 16th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 81% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 11th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 71% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 15th highest of 25 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 49 parents who had raised a concern Joint 11th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 51% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 66% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 18 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 13 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 73% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 60% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 9th highest of 26 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 64% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 75% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). 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
174 pupils in this year group.
30% — 16 points below the Bristol, City of average, and 16 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 30% | 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. | 38.5 | 46.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.3 | 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.
213 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 | 41% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 15% | 12% | 13% |
| Further education college | 30% | 30% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 84% | 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 | 174 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 127 |
| Of those, offered a place | 127 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 261 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.6 · 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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit with 25 places for speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Bristol, City of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 50.9% | 34.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 15th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 3.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.9% | 17.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.3% | 20.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 39th lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 7% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4% | 10.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 43rd lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 40.8% | 28.2%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 45th lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 111.9 | 37.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 45th lowest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Lower than 0% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 29.1% | 10.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 45th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 9% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.3 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 45th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.2 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 10th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Bristol. Higher than 69% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Fairfield High School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- E-ACT Montpelier High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion) · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Collegiate School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 39% A*/A at A level
- St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Temple Quarter 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 expected
- Bristol Brunel Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- LPW Independent School 1.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2025)
- Cleve House School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Bristol Metropolitan Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cotham School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The City Academy Bristol's Ofsted rating?
The City Academy Bristol was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 April 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The City Academy Bristol do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 30% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 16 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The City Academy Bristol?
85% of the 59 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The City Academy Bristol to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The City Academy Bristol oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 127 families put The City Academy Bristol as their first choice for 174 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 127 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 144509.
- 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.