Chew Valley School, Bristol
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Chew Valley School excels at making learning come alive for every pupil through the 'Chew Valley Guarantee', which provides tailored visits and trips. Your child will benefit from a vibrant house system, warm staff relationships, and a strong sense of belonging. The school is particularly strong at supporting students' wellbeing and preparing them for their next steps, whether that's university, apprenticeships or employment.
Key Strengths
- Excellent personal development programme with the 'Chew Valley Guarantee' ensuring all pupils access enriching activities like theatre visits, museums and field trips
- Strong sixth form with very effective pastoral support and high achievement in applied courses aligned to employment
- Inclusive approach with excellent support for pupils with SEND through the learning support base
- Pupils feel safe and happy with rare bullying; strong house system creates sense of belonging
- Effective careers guidance and 'Aspire' programme preparing students well for university and employment
Areas for Improvement
- Attendance rates declining overall and persistent absence above average for disadvantaged pupils
- Leaders not using attendance data consistently to understand barriers and measure impact of improvement actions
- Some teaching does not consistently check pupils' understanding before moving forward, leaving knowledge gaps
- Assessment of when pupils are ready to progress could be more precise in places
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Korean language club, reptiles club, music clubs, theatre productions, dance productions, sporting clubs, Ten Tors challenge, change and create projects (climate action, technology, equality), peer mentoring, debating, clothes swaps, volunteering at sporting events, work experience
Chew Valley School is a strong secondary school with an exceptional commitment to personal development and wellbeing. The school provides a broad, balanced curriculum with effective teaching and strong pastoral support across all key stages.
At a Glance
16.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
22.5
Avg class size
48
Total classes
7 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
1,180 pupils
1,253 capacity
73 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bristol
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bristol
Admissions Demand - Bath and North East Somerset
Places available
2,436
Applications
1,707
Got 1st preference
92.3%
Got preferred school
98.5%
Secondary admissions across Bath and North East Somerset (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.09779%
Overall absence
26.93032%
Persistent absence
1,062
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chew Valley School
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