Wellsway School
96%
Capacity
1,326
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Wellsway School
Wellsway School is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in Bath and North East Somerset, and it is clearly a popular choice with local families. The school has a capacity of 1,386 pupils and currently hosts 1,326, so it is running very close to full. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 434 applications for 224 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of nearly two applicants for every spot. Of those, 245 families put Wellsway as their first preference, and 216 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.6%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and gives a sense of the school's broad intake. It is a non-denominational school with no religious character, and it draws from a wide area within the local authority.
Academically, Wellsway performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.31 is more than double the Bath and North East Somerset average of 0.15, and the school ranks 6th out of 14 similar schools in the authority. This places it in the top half locally and in the top 27% nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 51.8, and 58.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. Progress in maths is particularly strong, with a score of 0.68, while English progress is closer to the national average at 0.05. At A-level, the school's value-added score is exactly zero, meaning students achieve in line with expectations given their prior attainment, and the average points per entry is 33.62, equivalent to a C+ grade. The sixth form is rated Good by Ofsted, and 22% of entries were at AAB or higher.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, sixth form centre, astro turf, and playing fields, plus a chapel on site. Sports on offer include rowing, swimming, and rugby, and there are clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debate, and Model UN. The school's SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. In the most recent Parent View survey, 81% of the 221 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. The school suits families who want a large, oversubscribed comprehensive with strong academic results, particularly in maths, and a well-regarded sixth form. Its popularity means applying as a first preference is advisable.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Chandag Road, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, BS31 1PH |
| Headteacher | Rob Pearsall |
| Local Authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Number of Pupils | 1,326 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,326 / 1,386 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (18 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.31)
822nd of 3,141
Nationally
66th of 306
In South West
6th of 14
In Bath and North East Somerset
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
38.7
'22/23
35.5
'23/24
33.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2359%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 201 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)59%
- FE college13%
- Sixth form college12%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2366%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 83 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
22%
Top-third HE
3%
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)66%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Other education1%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics35
- Geography22
- History22
- Business Studies:Single21
- Biology19
- Psychology17
- Chemistry15
- English Literature12
- Computer Studies / Computing11
- Mathematics (Further)10
- Physics10
- Sociology10
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
221 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed224
434
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
245 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.5%
- Asian5.1%
- Mixed4.3%
- White (other)3.4%
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.
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.
8
Total schools
7
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wellsway 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
Chandag Road, Bristol
Bath and North East Somerset, BS31 1PH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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