Classpot

Bedminster Down School

Bristol, City of, BS13 7DQSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
2 Good · 2 Requires improvement
Feb 2025
Progress 8
-0.30
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
192 1st-choice / 211 places
Ranking
#2,250
of 3,141 nationally

About Bedminster Down School

Bedminster Down School receives a mixed picture from its parent community, with 65% of respondents saying they would recommend the school, according to the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025. That leaves a notable 35% who would not. The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 336 applications for 211 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.59. Of those, 192 families put it as their first preference, and 183 first-preference offers were made. Parents are most positive about the range of subjects (87% agree or strongly agree) and clubs and activities (91% agree or strongly agree). However, behaviour is a clear concern: only 52% agree the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 45% disagree or strongly disagree. Bullying is also a sticking point — just 31% agree it is dealt with quickly, though 43% said the question was not applicable to them. Concerns handling splits opinion evenly, with 46% agreeing and 36% disagreeing.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDonald Road, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS13 7DQ
HeadteacherLouise Davies
Local AuthorityBristol, City of
Number of Pupils1,029
Free School Meals (FSM)38.4%
School Capacity1,029 / 1,080 (95% full)

The full report on this school

What 69 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

4 Feb 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 12 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
TheatreSwimming PoolDining HallSports HallICT SuiteLibraryArt StudiosScience LabsPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

DanceMartial ArtsSwimmingFootballNetballCross CountryTennis

Clubs & Activities

ChoirYoung EnterpriseArt ClubNewspaperScience ClubDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:00

Source: bedminsterdown.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bedminster Down School

Bedminster Down School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.