Bristol Cathedral Choir School
113%
Capacity
1,183
Pupils
6.8x
Demand
About Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Bristol Cathedral Choir School sits second among 20 secondary schools in the Bristol, City of local authority, placing it firmly in the top tier of state provision in the area. Its Progress 8 score of 0.55 puts it just behind Redland Green School (0.59) and ahead of Bristol Metropolitan Academy (0.54) and Bristol Free School (0.43), making it one of the strongest academic performers locally. The school is oversubscribed by a significant margin — for 136 places in 2025/26, it received 918 applications, with 247 families listing it as their first preference. That works out at nearly seven applicants per place, a clear signal of its reputation among Bristol parents. Headteacher Wade Nottingham leads a mixed, Church of England secondary with 1,183 pupils on roll, well above its official capacity of 1,050. The school also has a dedicated sixth form, which was rated Outstanding in its most recent Ofsted inspection, adding to its appeal for families looking for a through-school option.
Academically, the school delivers results that are well above average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.55 means pupils make significantly more progress than the national average, and it sits well above the local authority average of 0. In 2023/24, 87% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score of 56.7 reflects strong overall performance. At A-level, the school’s best three A-levels averaged a B- grade, with a points per entry score of 38.14, also a B-. The sixth form value-added score of -0.07 is rated Average, suggesting students achieve broadly in line with expectations. Ofsted’s 2022 inspection rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding sixth-form provision, and Good marks for quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. That’s a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2016, but the school remains a strong choice for academically minded families.
Facilities are generous for a state school, including a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of sports — netball, cricket, gymnastics, dance, among others — and clubs such as debate, orchestra, film club, and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 25.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a genuinely mixed intake. This is a school for families who want strong academic outcomes in a city-centre context, with the bonus of a cathedral connection and a sixth form that has been judged Outstanding. The high oversubscription ratio means it’s worth visiting open events early and preparing a strong application.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | College Square, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS1 5TS |
| Headteacher | Wade Nottingham |
| Local Authority | Bristol, City of |
| Number of Pupils | 1,183 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 25.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,183 / 1,050 (113% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
446th of 3,141
Nationally
27th of 306
In South West
2nd of 20
In Bristol, City of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.0
'22/23
38.9
'23/24
38.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2358%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 216 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
50%
Russell Group
49%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)58%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed136
918
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
247 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British45.6%
- Asian15.3%
- Mixed13.4%
- White (other)7.0%
- Black1.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
17
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
College Square, Bristol
Bristol, City of, BS1 5TS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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