St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
101%
Capacity
754
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.32 places it below the Bristol local authority average of 0, and the school ranks 17th out of 20 secondary schools in the city. That puts it in the bottom 50% nationally, with a national percentile of 72.6. The data shows a mixed picture: while the school’s overall Progress 8 is below average, its Progress 8 score for open subjects (non-core qualifications) is -0.01, almost exactly in line with the national average. The biggest drag comes from maths, where Progress 8 is -0.64, and the EBacc subjects collectively sit at -0.47. English is closer to the average at -0.31. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 43, and 59% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 31.9% at the higher grade 5+ threshold. Just 4.9% of pupils entered the full EBacc, though 29.2% entered at least some EBacc components.
In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in November 2018, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards were maintained. Parent feedback is broadly positive: 87% of the 45 respondents would recommend the school, and 89% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. Strong majorities also felt the school has high expectations (89%) and that their child does well (89%). However, only 49% agreed that the school supports wider personal development, with 16% disagreeing. The school’s capacity is 750 pupils, and it currently has 754 on roll, so it is effectively full. For 2025/26 entry, it was oversubscribed: 408 applications for 144 places, with 135 first-preference offers made from 167 first-preference applications — a ratio of 2.83 applicants per place.
St Bernadette is a Roman Catholic secondary for ages 11-16, with no sixth form. It offers a wide range of sports including rowing, gymnastics, and martial arts, plus clubs from debate to eco club. Facilities include science labs, art studios, a chapel, and playing fields. The school supports pupils with a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its oversubscription and Catholic character, it will appeal most to families who prioritise a faith-based environment and are comfortable with a school that performs around the LA average in core subjects but where pupils feel safe and happy. The lack of a sixth form means families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Fossedale Avenue, Bristol, Bristol, City of, BS14 9LS |
| Headteacher | Edward Walker |
| Local Authority | Bristol, City of |
| Number of Pupils | 754 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.2% |
| School Capacity | 754 / 750 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 3 Dec 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.32)
2281st of 3,141
Nationally
244th of 306
In South West
17th of 20
In Bristol, City of
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
2022/2312%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 144 pupils).
- FE college34%
- Sixth form college29%
- School sixth form (stay)12%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Employment9%
- Not sustained6%
94% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
45 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed144
408
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
167 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: stberns.bristol.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.2%
- White (other)7.8%
- Mixed7.7%
- Asian7.6%
- Black2.0%
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.
14
Total schools
13
Oversubscribed
10
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 Bernadette Catholic Secondary 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Fossedale Avenue, Bristol
Bristol, City of, BS14 9LS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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