Schools by area › City of Bristol › Cotham School
Cotham School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Cotham Lawn Road, Cotham, Bristol BS6 6DT · cotham.bristol.sch.uk · 0117 919 8000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Oct 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Bristol, City of 46.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.86 mi
- 6.22 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · 6: out of area, closest · Bristol Council
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,654
- 12 over 1,642 places · 101%
- Local authority
- Bristol, City of
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 39.5%
- First language not English
- 48.2%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Cotham School
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “6: out of area, closest” went to a home 3.86 mi (6.22 km) from the school. Source: Bristol Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 160 families put the school first and 247 places were offered; 99% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 247 | 160 | 0.6 | 99% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 260 | 165 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 258 | 155 | 0.6 | 90% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 237 | 164 | 0.7 | 87% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 241 | 136 | 0.6 | 88% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – 6: out of area, closest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.86 mi6.22 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51.8, and 54.1% 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- (35.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲54.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲71.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲47.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.85 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 67.6 | −4.1 |
| Sixth form college | 2.3 | +1.4 |
| Further education | 19.6 | −1.6 |
| Other education | 0.5 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.4 | +0.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.6 | +1.3 |
| Activity not captured | 4.1 | +3.2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 187 students | B- (35.1) | Above average +0.12 | |
| 188 students | B- (35.3) | Above average +0.13 | |
| 67 students | Merit (26.4) | Average -0.04 | |
| 11 students | L2Dist- (6.6) | Well above average +0.81 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 181 | C+ (33.8) | +0.08 |
| 2022/23 | 178 | C (31.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 170 | C+ (35) | — |
| 2018/19 | 188 | C+ (33.8) | +0.23 |
| 2017/18 | 183 | C (31.3) | -0.04 |
| 2016/17 | 220 | C+ (33.6) | +0.08 |
| 2015/16 | 214 | C (31.2) | +0.02 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2019/20 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 39 | +6 |
| Further and other education | 17 | +2 |
| Further education | 8 | — |
| Other education | 9 | — |
| Employment | 20 | −16 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 21 | +13 |
| Activity not captured | 3 | −2 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 18 October 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for Cotham School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 17 Oct 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Apr 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Apr 2018Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Sept 2010Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding May 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (281 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Replies
- 281
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 70% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 53 parents (19%) with SEND