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Bristol Free School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Free school

Concorde Drive, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 6NJ · bristolfreeschool.org.uk · 0117 959 7200

On the mapSearch near BS10 6NJ

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
56.3
average Attainment 8 score. Bristol, City of 46.4, England 46
Last distance offered
0.38 mi
0.62 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · 4i: 20% closest to the school · Bristol Council
Demand for places
1.4
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,304
214 over 1,090 places · 120%
Local authority
Bristol, City of
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
14.1%
First language not English
7.2%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Russell Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “4i: 20% closest to the school” went to a home 0.38 mi (616 m) from the school. Its other admission rules have their own figures. Source: Bristol Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 300 families put the school first and 218 places were offered; 63% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 283 (Places 212)283September 2023: 253 (Places 219)253September 2024: 290 (Places 221)290September 2025: 311 (Places 205)311September 2026: 300 (Places 218)300Places 218
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262183001.4▲63%
September 2025Sept 20252053111.5▲58%
September 2024Sept 20242212901.3▲67%
September 2023Sept 20232192531.2▲63%
September 2022Sept 20222122831.3▲63%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – 4i: 20% closest to the schoolDistance
September 20260.38 mi0.62 km
Year 7 – 4ii: 80% closest to the centre of the areaDistance
September 20261.03 mi1.66 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 56.3, and 66.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bristol, City of it was 46.4, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (39.5 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 44.0 (England 46.3)44.02017/18: 48.9 (England 46.5)48.92018/19: 52.6 (England 46.7)52.62021/22: 51.8 (England 48.8)51.82022/23: 57.8 (England 46.3)57.82023/24: 58.0 (England 45.9)58.02024/25: 56.3 (England 46.0)56.3England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲56.346.0
▲66.3%45.4%
▲83.2%64.8%
▲48.0%40.5%
▲5.184.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form67.8+10.5
Sixth form college1.5+1
Further education24.6−6.1
Apprenticeship2.5+1.5
Employment1−1.6
Not in a lasting destination2−2.2
Activity not captured0.50

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published17/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252017/18: 25.5 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 32.9 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 42.3 (England 37.9)B+2022/23: 34.6 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 37.2 (England 34.4)B-2024/25: 39.5 (England 35.0)BEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
135 studentsB (39.5)Above average +0.16
136 studentsB (39.3)Above average +0.16
23 studentsMerit+ (29)Average -0.04
29.5%AAB or better
96.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24105B- (37.2)+0.36
2022/2391C+ (34.6)—
2021/2266B+ (42.3)—
2018/1945C+ (32.9)+0.30
2017/1848C- (25.5)-0.18

Where sixth-form leavers went

2017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University38.7−18.7
Apprenticeship0.9−2
Employment32.4+10.3
Not in a lasting destination21.6+12.8
Activity not captured6.3+1.9

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Bristol Free School on 31 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
31 Mar 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementStrong standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingStrong standard
Post-16 provisionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2022

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Mar 2022Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Mar 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Feb 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding

What parents said

96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (256 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
96%
Positive
90%
Replies
256
20% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▲95% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe▲94% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▲90% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▲85% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▲88% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▲79% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲81% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 80% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲72% agreeEngland 43%

based on 33 parents (13%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲66% agreeEngland 63%

based on 72 parents (28%) with SEND

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