Classpot

Cotham School

Bristol, City of, BS6 6DTSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
Progress 8
+0.10
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
165 1st-choice / 260 places
Ranking
#1,309
of 3,141 nationally

About Cotham School

Cotham School sits within the Bristol, City of local authority, a mixed secondary and sixth form with 1,655 pupils on roll. In the most recent local rankings based on Progress 8 scores, it placed 10th out of 20 schools of the same type in the LA, putting it in the top half locally. The top-performing peers in the area are Redland Green School, Bristol Cathedral Choir School, and Bristol Metropolitan Academy, all of which scored higher on the same metric. Cotham’s Progress 8 score of 0.1 places it above the LA average of 0, meaning pupils here make slightly more academic progress than their peers across the city. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 670 applications for 260 places, with 165 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.58. That level of demand suggests it holds a solid reputation among local families.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCotham Lawn Road, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS6 6DT
HeadteacherJoanne Butler
Local AuthorityBristol, City of
Number of Pupils1,655
Free School Meals (FSM)37.8%
School Capacity1,655 / 1,480 (112% 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

18 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (18 Oct 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
TheatreLibraryScience LabsPlaying FieldsArt StudiosAstro TurfDining HallMusic RoomsICT SuiteGymnasiumTennis CourtsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

SwimmingCricketRugbyBasketballDanceGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsArt ClubYoung EnterpriseDebateScience ClubFilm ClubNewspaperGardeningDramaDuke of Edinburgh

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 Cotham School

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