The City Academy Bristol

About The City Academy Bristol

Of the 59 parents who responded to Ofsted's Parent View survey between September 2024 and September 2025, 85% said they would recommend The City Academy Bristol to other families. That's a strong signal, and it's backed up by the school's popularity at the admissions stage: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 244 applications for 206 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.18. 124 of those applications were first preferences. Parents responding to the survey were particularly positive about the range of subjects on offer (92% agreed or strongly agreed) and the clubs and activities available (94% agreed or strongly agreed). 90% of parents felt their child does well at the school, and 88% said their child is happy there. The picture isn't entirely rosy, though — only 20% of parents felt bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively, though 59% said the question wasn't applicable to them, and 45% agreed the school makes them aware of what their child will learn.

Academically, The City Academy Bristol sits in a middling position within its local authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.07 is above the Bristol local authority average of 0, meaning pupils make slightly more progress than the typical student in the area. That score places the school 11th out of 20 secondary schools in Bristol, and 127th out of 306 in the South West region. Nationally, it ranks 1368th out of 3141 schools, putting it in the top half. The Attainment 8 score is 37.5, and 50% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 25.3%, with 10.5% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 and above. In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The previous inspection in 2015 had rated the school Inadequate, so the improvement trajectory is clear.

The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary with a sixth form, serving 970 pupils against a capacity of 975. Nearly half of pupils (48.9%) are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. There's a broad range of sports on offer, from rowing to gymnastics, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. The school lists SEND provisions for eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. 31% of Parent View respondents said their child has SEND, and 72% of those felt the school gives them the support they need. This is a school that has turned around its fortunes, is in high demand locally, and seems to suit families who value a wide range of extracurricular opportunities alongside solid, if not outstanding, academic progress.

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