Bristol Free School
119%
Capacity
1,292
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Bristol Free School
Bristol Free School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The school earned Good marks across every category inspected, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.43, which places it well above the national average of 0 and comfortably above the Bristol local authority average of 0. That score ranks the school 4th out of 20 secondary schools in Bristol, putting it in the top 25% locally and in the top 20% nationally among over 3,100 schools. Its attainment 8 score of 58 is also strong, and 84.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 66.3% reaching grade 5 or above.
At GCSE, Bristol Free School’s EBacc average point score of 5.32 reflects solid academic breadth, and 47.7% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. The school’s Progress 8 breakdown shows particular strength in the EBacc subjects (0.65) and open subjects (0.51), while English progress (0.29) is positive and maths progress (0.09) is close to the national average. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score of 0.36 is rated above average, with students achieving an average of 37.21 points per entry, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels averaged a B grade, and 26.4% of entries were graded AAB or higher. With 105 pupils in the sixth-form cohort, the school offers a substantial post-16 provision that clearly adds value beyond GCSE.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 625 applications for 205 places, with 311 first-preference applications and 181 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.05. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. The school supports a wide range of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 14% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. Bristol Free School is a good fit for families who want a non-denominational, mixed secondary with a strong academic track record, a well-regarded sixth form, and a broad extracurricular offer including Duke of Edinburgh, Model UN, and Young Enterprise.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Concorde Drive, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS10 6NJ |
| Headteacher | Susan King |
| Local Authority | Bristol, City of |
| Number of Pupils | 1,292 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,292 / 1,090 (119% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.43)
602nd of 3,141
Nationally
39th of 306
In South West
4th of 20
In Bristol, City of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
42.3
'22/23
34.6
'23/24
37.2
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
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 66 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
27%
Top-third HE
5%
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)59%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education5%
- Apprenticeship3%
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed205
625
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
311 families put this school as their 1st choice (50% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.0%
- Mixed6.2%
- White (other)5.8%
- Asian4.8%
- Black0.5%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
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 Free 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
Concorde Drive, Bristol
Bristol, City of, BS10 6NJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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