Chew Valley School, Bristol

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Chew Valley School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 4 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that personal development is central to pupils' experiences at Chew Valley School."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "The Chew Valley sixth form is welcoming and inclusive, with very effective pastoral support."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education, employment or training."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an appropriate curriculum that is broad and balanced."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear commitment for all pupils to feel part of Chew Valley School."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance fulfil their statutory duties effectively."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils do not consistently attend school regularly enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff adapt their teaching more consistently to meet pupils' needs and use formative assessment effectively to check when pupils are ready to move on with their learning"; "Leaders should strengthen their analysis of attendance and persistent absence so that they are able to accurately identify patterns and take appropriate action to ensure more pupils attend school regularly".

In its own words: "The school is situated 8 miles south of Bristol between the villages of Chew Magna and Chew Stoke. It stands on a 30-acre site in open countryside overlooking Chew Valley Lake. The school buildings are surrounded by very pleasant grounds and landscaped gardens. There are extensive playing fields and tennis courts."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 6pm and an open evening on Friday 20 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Chew Valley School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.1 in Bath and North East Somerset and 47 across England.

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

That is down from 49.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.1: pupils made about 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 33.5, against 51.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.7 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 211 families put Chew Valley School as their first choice and 344 named it as one of their preferences, for 200 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 23 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Chew Valley School are Bridge Learning Campus (3.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 33.4); E-ACT Bristol Academy South (3.7 miles, Attainment 8 30.4); Bedminster Down School (4.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37); and St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School (4.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.5).

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

Chew Valley 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.

Of the 208 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 30% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 84 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 27% went on to university or other higher education, 13% to apprenticeships and 38% into work. 21% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Chew Valley School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chew Valley School Grounds (sw-bound), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, other theft and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bath and North East Somerset (86).

In 2024/25, Chew Valley School issued 89 suspensions, 7.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Chew Valley School are Chew Stoke Church School (0.8 miles) and Chew Magna Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.