Digitech Studio School
165%
Capacity
593
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Digitech Studio School
Digitech Studio School is a state secondary for 14- to 19-year-olds in South Gloucestershire, and while the data doesn't include a parent recommendation percentage, the school's oversubscription ratio tells its own story. With 593 pupils on roll against a capacity of 360, the school is significantly over capacity, suggesting strong local demand for its specialist digital and tech-focused curriculum. This is a school that has clearly found a niche, attracting families who want a more applied, industry-linked education for their teenagers. The headteacher is Simon Jones, and the school has no religious character. It's worth noting that 27.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average, indicating a genuinely comprehensive intake.
Academically, the picture is mixed. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, Digitech Studio School was rated Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is -0.65, meaning pupils achieved around two-thirds of a grade less per subject than similar students nationally. This is below the South Gloucestershire local authority average of -0.25. The school ranks 15th out of 16 schools in the LA for Progress 8, placing it in the bottom 94th percentile locally. Attainment 8 sits at 34.5, and just 25.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. No pupils entered the EBacc, reflecting the school's specialist focus.
The school offers a strong range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, art studios, sports hall, science labs, library, theatre, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, rugby, cross country, athletics, dance, gymnastics, swimming, and cricket, while clubs range from Science Club and Drama to Debate, DofE, Eco Club, Choir, Film Club, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health, speech and language communication, visual impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. This is a school that will particularly suit families who want a smaller, more specialised environment with a digital and creative focus, and who are comfortable with a non-traditional academic pathway. The oversubscription suggests it's a popular choice for those in the know.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Tower Road North, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS30 8XQ |
| Headteacher | Simon Jones |
| Local Authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 593 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.9% |
| School Capacity | 593 / 360 (165% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.65)
2796th of 3,141
Nationally
285th of 306
In South West
15th of 16
In South Gloucestershire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2319%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 94 pupils).
- FE college43%
- School sixth form (stay)19%
- Sixth form college12%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment9%
- Apprenticeship7%
89% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 181 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
Top-third HE
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)45%
- Employment30%
- Not sustained15%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.1%
- Mixed6.3%
- White (other)4.7%
- Black0.7%
- Asian0.4%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 Digitech Studio 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Tower Road North, Bristol
South Gloucestershire, BS30 8XQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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