Bristol Free School, Bristol

Ofsted's report card from its 31 March 2026 inspection grades Bristol Free School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "The school is rightly proud of its published outcomes in national tests and examinations, which have been positive and sustained over a number of years, both at key stage 4 and key stage 5."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils attend well because they feel a deep sense of belonging."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders, governors and staff are united in their vision to ensure that all pupils benefit fully from the wide range of opportunities available and achieve highly."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and governors are united in their vision to put disadvantaged pupils at the heart of decision making, while maintaining high standards for all."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The programme to support pupils' character and wider development is impressive."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "The sixth form has grown considerably over time as a result of its positive reputation in the community."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers understand and consistently use identified strategies to support disadvantaged pupils in the classroom, so that these pupils learn as effectively as possible and their achievement continues to improve"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen the reading programme, ensuring that all pupils with gaps in reading knowledge receive appropriate support that is precisely matched to their needs".

In 2026, pupils at Bristol Free School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46 in Bristol, City of; and 47 across England.

70% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Bristol, City of; and 47% in England.

That is up from 56.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.43: 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 39.9, against 61.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 21.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 300 families put Bristol Free School as their first choice and 638 named it as one of their preferences, for 218 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 111 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Bristol Free School are Blaise High School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.7); Orchard School Bristol (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5); St Bede's Catholic College (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.8); and Redland Green School (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 57.9).

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

Bristol Free School is one of 7 schools run by Russell Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.6 in 2024/25.

256 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bristol Free School (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).

Of the 199 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 111 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 32% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

13.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (6%).

The nearest railway station is Bristol Brabazon Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Burghill Road (sw-bound), 170 metres away.

In 2024/25, Bristol Free School issued 80 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Bristol Free School are E-ACT Badock's Wood Academy (0.2 miles), Little Mead Primary Academy (0.4 miles), Westbury-On-Trym Church of England Academy (0.4 miles) and Blaise Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.