Backwell School, Bristol

In its own words: "Backwell School's reputation is as one of the most-sought after schools in the South West. What makes this school special is that it provides consistent academic excellence, yet remains a school whose hallmarks are friendliness, belief in the breadth of opportunity for all and a real sense of community."

On phones, the school says: "This will mean that mobile phones cannot be used on school premises for any reason."

In 2026, pupils at Backwell School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in North Somerset and 47 across England.

60% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in North Somerset and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 52.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.21: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 28, against 55.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 27.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 276 families put Backwell School as their first choice and 467 named it as one of their preferences, for 263 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Backwell School are Nailsea School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.6); Gordano School (4.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.1); St Katherine's School (4.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.2); and Clevedon School (4.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.3).

Backwell School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Backwell School is one of 34 schools run by Lighthouse Schools Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.4 in 2024/25.

241 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Backwell School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (64%).

Of the 266 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 92% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 30% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 154 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 36% into work. 29% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

7.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 4.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 120 pupils (7.5%) received SEN support and 48 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Nailsea & Backwell Rail Station, about 830 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (ne-bound), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Backwell School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and bicycle theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Somerset (76).

In 2024/25, Backwell School issued 121 suspensions, 7.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Backwell School are West Leigh Infant School (0.4 miles), Backwell Church of England Junior School (0.5 miles), St Francis Catholic Primary School (1 mile) and Golden Valley Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.