Cotham Gardens Primary School, Bristol
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has made a strong start on its improvement journey with much better reading teaching using high-quality texts and proven strategies that help children become confident readers. New leadership and a restructured team are bringing greater focus and consistency to teaching, with improved behaviour creating calm classrooms where pupils can concentrate. The school is also providing more effective support for pupils with special educational needs through better identification systems and staff training.
Key Strengths
- Much stronger approach to teaching reading with high-quality texts and engaging strategies like choral and echo reading
- Improved leadership capacity with new permanent headteacher and restructured leadership team
- Significantly improved pupil behaviour with calm, purposeful classrooms and positive attitudes to learning
- Effective systems for identifying and supporting pupils with SEND with increased staff training
- Strong governance from trustees who actively hold leaders accountable for school improvement
Areas for Improvement
- Insufficient decodable books for some pupils in lower Key Stage 2 who need extra reading practice
- Variability in how the curriculum is assessed and taught, especially in wider curriculum subjects
- Some teaching does not build precisely enough on what pupils already know, so pupils don't secure knowledge well enough
- Need to develop how leaders review the quality and impact of interventions for pupils with SEND
Cotham Gardens Primary School is in special measures and has made progress toward improvement since December 2024, but more work is necessary. New leadership structures and targeted interventions in reading and mathematics show promise, though variability in teaching quality and curriculum delivery remain concerns.
At a Glance
27.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
130 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 72% to 81%. Maths has improved from 59% to 74%. Writing has improved from 49% to 62%.
Class Sizes
27.1
Avg class size
26.8
Infant (KS1)
27.3
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
58%
Available places
365 pupils
630 capacity
265 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bristol
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bristol
Admissions Demand - Bristol, City of
Places available
5,450
Applications
4,547
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Primary admissions across Bristol, City of (2025/26)
Inspection History(5)
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
5.10987%
Overall absence
12.68293%
Persistent absence
410
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Cotham Gardens Primary School
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