Schools by area › South Gloucestershire › Sir Bernard Lovell Academy
Sir Bernard Lovell Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
North Street, Oldland Common, Bristol BS30 8TS · sblacademy.org.uk · 0117 456 5900
On the mapSearch near BS30 8TS
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.5
- average Attainment 8 score. South Gloucestershire 42.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,268
- 90% of 1,409 places
- Local authority
- South Gloucestershire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18%
- First language not English
- 2.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 255 families put the school first and 236 places were offered; 87% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 236 | 255 | 1.1▲ | 87% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 240 | 279 | 1.2▲ | 85% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 264 | 242 | 0.9 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 233 | 254 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 205 | 203 | 1 | 94% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.5, and 43.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across South Gloucestershire it was 42.9, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade D+ (24.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼43.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ●66.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼19.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.74 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 36.5 | −3.9 |
| Sixth form college | 19.8 | +5.9 |
| Further education | 19.3 | +1.8 |
| Other education | 1 | −0.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 9.9 | −1.5 |
| Employment | 4.7 | −2.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.6 | −1.8 |
| Activity not captured | 5.2 | +2.8 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 students | D+ (24.5) | Well below average -0.83 | |
| 48 students | D+ (24.7) | Well below average -0.80 | |
| 45 students | Merit (25.8) | Below average -0.36 | |
| Tech level11 students | Merit (25.8) | Average -0.16 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46 | C (29.7) | -0.50 |
| 2022/23 | 52 | C (28.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 35 | C (29.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 40 | D+ (22.2) | -0.37 |
| 2017/18 | 59 | D+ (24) | -0.16 |
| 2016/17 | 23 | C- (26.5) | +0.04 |
| 2015/16 | 58 | C- (26.7) | -0.37 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 34.2 | −1.8 |
| Other education | 2.8 | +0.8 |
| Apprenticeship | 17.8 | +9.8 |
| Employment | 32.9 | +4.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.6 | −8.4 |
| Activity not captured | 2.7 | −5.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Sir Bernard Lovell Academy on 13 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 13 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 109300), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Feb 2014Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 109300)
What parents said
88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (202 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 88%
- Positive
- 83%
- Replies
- 202
- 16% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 86% who raised concerns
based on 51 parents (25%) whose child was bullied
based on 57 parents (28%) with SEND