Oasis Academy Brightstowe
78%
Capacity
739
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Oasis Academy Brightstowe
Oasis Academy Brightstowe’s headline Progress 8 score of -1.01 places it well below the national average and significantly behind the Bristol, City of local authority average of 0. This means pupils here make, on average, around one grade less progress per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 20th out of 26 secondary schools in the local authority, putting it in the bottom quarter of Bristol’s state secondaries. Its Attainment 8 score of 33.3 is also low, and only 19.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 43.8% who achieved a grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score sits at 2.95, and just 4.8% of students entered the full EBacc combination. These figures paint a clear picture of a school where academic outcomes are a significant concern.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, judged it as Requires Improvement overall, though the inspection was a graded inspection that did not produce a new overall effectiveness grade. The previous inspection in 2015 rated the school Good. In the 2024 inspection, the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes were both rated as Requires Improvement, while personal development and leadership and management were rated Good. The sixth form was not inspected. Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, show a mixed picture: 65% of parents would recommend the school, but only 33% strongly agreed their child is happy, and 15% strongly disagreed their child feels safe. On behaviour, 23% strongly agreed the school ensures good behaviour, while 15% strongly disagreed. Concerns about SEND support were also split, with 35% strongly agreeing support is adequate and 24% disagreeing.
Oasis Academy Brightstowe is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, serving 739 pupils against a capacity of 945. It is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 167 applications for 126 places and 98 first-preference offers. Over half of pupils (50.6%) are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, art studios, science labs, music rooms, and an astro turf pitch. Sports include rowing, martial arts, and dance, and clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to Model UN and coding. SEND provisions cover nine categories including autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. This school may suit families who value its broad extracurricular offer and inclusive SEND support, but who are prepared for the challenges reflected in its academic and Ofsted data.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Penpole Lane, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS11 0EB |
| Headteacher | Rhian Davies Jones |
| Local Authority | Bristol, City of |
| Number of Pupils | 739 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 50.6% |
| School Capacity | 739 / 945 (78% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.01)
3029th of 3,141
Nationally
297th of 306
In South West
20th of 20
In Bristol, City of
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.
Ofsted Parent View
48 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed126
167
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
98 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.6%
- White (other)9.9%
- Mixed5.4%
- Asian2.5%
- Black0.8%
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.
⚠ 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.
7
Total schools
6
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 Oasis Academy Brightstowe
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
Penpole Lane, Bristol
Bristol, City of, BS11 0EB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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