Classpot

Bristol Free School

Bristol, City of, BS10 6NJSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2026
Progress 8
+0.43
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.5×
Oversubscribed
311 1st-choice / 205 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#602 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressConcorde Drive, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS10 6NJ
HeadteacherSusan King
Local AuthorityBristol, City of
Number of Pupils1,292
Free School Meals (FSM)14.0%
School Capacity1,292 / 1,090 (119% 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

8 Mar 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 5 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Astro TurfGymnasiumScience LabsTennis CourtsSports HallICT SuiteMusic RoomsSixth Form CentreSwimming PoolLibraryArt Studios

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

FootballAthleticsHockeyCross CountryGymnasticsBasketballTennisMartial ArtsDance

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseFilm ClubDramaEco ClubModel United NationsDuke of EdinburghDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol Free School

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