Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend, Bristol
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 7 in Bristol. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. It was full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to South Gloucestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend in detail
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, tennis, gymnastics, dance, choir, Lego and eco club.
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend as their first choice and 126 named it as one of their preferences, for 65 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend are Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend (0.2 miles, Good, 86% reading, 81% maths); Staple Hill Primary School (0.4 miles, 69% reading, 69% maths); Stanbridge Primary School (0.6 miles, 72% reading, 75% maths); and Frome Vale Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 82% reading, 79% maths).
Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, DownendStaple Hill Primary SchoolStanbridge Primary SchoolFrome Vale Academy
Who goes there
5.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 30 pupils (13.3%) received SEN support and 3 (1.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bristol Parkway Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Christchurch School (sw-bound), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 244 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in South Gloucestershire (116), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend are Downend School (0.7 miles), Mangotsfield School (1.1 miles) and South Gloucestershire Hospital Home Teaching Service (1.2 miles).
Downend SchoolMangotsfield SchoolSouth Gloucestershire Hospital Home Teaching Service
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a caring community where children feel safe and valued as individuals. Reading is a real strength with engaging stories that help children understand important values like equality. The school excels at developing children's character through community projects, charity work and giving them meaningful roles like becoming members of the eco club or school council.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with a well-taught phonics programme and pupils progressing with increasing fluency and accuracy
- Excellent personal development with pupils showing mature understanding of equality and British values
- Well-sequenced mathematics curriculum where pupils build understanding progressively from early years to Year 2
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to access the same opportunities as peers
- Strong behaviour and attendance with clear routines and consistent procedures
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers need to check pupils' knowledge more effectively across all subjects, particularly in geography where some older pupils struggle to describe human and physical features
- Some subjects lack clear evidence of how teachers use their checks on understanding to adapt and deepen future learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with governors carrying out statutory duties well and the school prioritising pupils' safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Farm visits, theatre visits, GLOW team, eco club, school council, charity fundraising, community planting projects
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School is a Good school where pupils are eager to learn within a caring community that values friendship, courage and thankfulness. The school has high expectations for all pupils and provides a well-designed ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
5.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
28.0
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
Inspired to live life to the full: Olympian visits CCI!
2 Jul 2026
Courageously Learning: Rugby Workshop
1 Jul 2026
Inspired to live life to the full: Church Puppet Team and CCD
25 Jun 2026
Inspired to live life to the full: The Tiger Who Came to Tea!
18 Jun 2026
Caring Community: Pool Renovations
5 Jun 2026
Courageously Learning: Female Sport Event
4 Jun 2026
From Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend.
- Premier Education At Christ Church Infant SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Kip McGrath Bristol North420m away · Not yet graded
- 11 Plus Tutoring Academy Bristol610m away · Not yet graded
- Sporting Chance SPS860m away · Not yet graded
- Bizzy Kidz Club870m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend is in South Gloucestershire; for families living there:
Apply to South Gloucestershire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 9
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 9 serious and 15 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
Will you get a place at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from South Gloucestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in South Gloucestershire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
225 pupils
225 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bristol
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bristol
Across South Gloucestershire council
Places available
3,640
Applications
3,033
Got 1st preference
92.8%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across South Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
30
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
14.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
225
Total Pupils
109
Boys
116
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
17.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,827
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,075
Per pupil
£1272k
Total funding
£23k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
4.6%
Persistent absence
153
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
Questions parents ask about Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend
What is Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend's Ofsted rating?
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
No fixed boundary. When Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend is oversubscribed, South Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Classes at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend average 28 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend has around 225 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
3.8% of sessions were missed at Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend in 2024/25. 4.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Apply through South Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Premier Education At Christ Church Infant School (registered, not yet graded). There are 4 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 9 serious and 15 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in South Gloucestershire is 8 (the median across 127 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend?
Christ Church, Church of England Infant School, Downend is at Christchurch Avenue, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5TG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)