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Bristol Cathedral Choir School

Bristol, City of, BS1 5TSSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.55
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.8×
Oversubscribed
247 1st-choice / 136 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#446 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressCollege Square, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS1 5TS
HeadteacherWade Nottingham
Local AuthorityBristol, City of
Number of Pupils1,183
Free School Meals (FSM)25.8%
School Capacity1,183 / 1,050 (113% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

29 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
LibraryTheatreSports HallSwimming PoolDining HallScience LabsAstro TurfICT SuiteChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

NetballCross CountryGymnasticsCricketBasketballDance

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubGardeningNewspaperBook ClubArt ClubDebateOrchestraYoung EnterpriseEco Club

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol Cathedral Choir School

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