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Sir Bernard Lovell Academy

South Gloucestershire, BS30 8TSSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2026
Progress 8
+0.08
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
279 1st-choice / 240 places
Ranking
#1,359
of 3,141 nationally

About Sir Bernard Lovell Academy

Sir Bernard Lovell Academy is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in South Gloucestershire, a local authority where no school currently holds an Ofsted Outstanding rating. The school ranks sixth out of 16 secondary schools in the area by Progress 8 score, placing it comfortably in the top half of local provision. Its closest competitors at the top of the LA table are John Cabot Academy, Bradley Stoke Community School and The Castle School, all of which post stronger Progress 8 scores. Sir Bernard Lovell sits in the top 50 nationally for its Progress 8 banding, and within the South West region it ranks 125th out of 306 schools. The school is led by headteacher Robin Bassford and has a capacity of 1,409 pupils, with 1,261 currently on roll. Around 18 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressNorth Street, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS30 8TS
HeadteacherRobin Bassford
Local AuthoritySouth Gloucestershire
Number of Pupils1,261
Free School Meals (FSM)18.0%
School Capacity1,261 / 1,409 (89% 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

4 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Dec 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

14
Swimming PoolSports HallScience LabsDining HallLibraryTennis CourtsAstro TurfPlaying FieldsGymnasiumICT SuiteArt StudiosMusic RoomsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

BadmintonFootballCricketNetballHockeyBasketball

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsChessDebateFilm ClubOrchestraArt ClubYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sir Bernard Lovell Academy

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