St Bede's Catholic College
109%
Capacity
1,315
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About St Bede's Catholic College
St Bede's Catholic College holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2014, and an ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.38, which places pupils well above the national average of zero and significantly ahead of the Bristol local authority average of zero. This score ranks the school 5th out of 20 secondary schools in Bristol, putting it in the top 25 per cent locally. Nationally, it sits in the top 22 per cent of schools, ranked 674th out of 3,141. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 55.6, and 83.2 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Leadership and management were rated Outstanding in the 2014 inspection, and the school’s EBacc average point score of 4.68 reflects solid academic breadth.
At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The school’s value-added score of -0.27 is below average, meaning students typically leave with slightly lower grades than their prior attainment would predict. The average points per entry is 33.32, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels average out at C+. Just 9.4 per cent of entries achieved AAB or higher. The sixth form has 127 pupils and is rated as having below average progress overall. That said, the school’s Progress 8 breakdown shows particular strength in open subjects (0.67) and EBacc subjects (0.51), while English progress is flat at -0.02 and maths is slightly positive at 0.14. For a family weighing up secondary options, the KS4 results are clearly the stronger suit, with the school comfortably outperforming the local average on pupil progress.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 463 applications for 201 places, with 241 first-preference applications and 189 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.3. It has a Roman Catholic religious character and a sixth form on site. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, science labs, music rooms, and a chapel. Sports on offer range from hockey and netball to martial arts and gymnastics, while clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, orchestra, and chess. SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 11.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. It suits families who prioritise strong KS4 progress and a Catholic ethos, and who are comfortable with a large secondary of 1,315 pupils.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Long Cross, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS11 0SU |
| Headteacher | Robert King |
| Local Authority | Bristol, City of |
| Number of Pupils | 1,315 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,315 / 1,208 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Oct 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 Oct 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.38)
674th of 3,141
Nationally
45th of 306
In South West
5th of 20
In Bristol, City of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.8
'22/23
34.2
'23/24
33.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 94 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
37%
Russell Group
30%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)72%
- Employment15%
- Further education5%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship2%
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed201
463
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
241 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British39.2%
- Asian23.4%
- White (other)22.5%
- Mixed5.9%
- Black1.1%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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 St Bede's Catholic College
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
Long Cross, Bristol
Bristol, City of, BS11 0SU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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