Cotham School, Bristol

In 2026, pupils at Cotham School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46 in Bristol, City of; and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Bristol, City of; and 47% in England.

That is down from 51.8 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 40.7, against 54.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 160 families put Cotham School as their first choice and 661 named it as one of their preferences, for 247 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Cotham School are North Bristol Post 16 Centre (0.2 miles); E-ACT Montpelier High School (0.5 miles, Attainment 8 57.6); Redland Green School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 57.9); and Bristol Cathedral Choir School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 53.5).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Cotham School.

Of the 219 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 198 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 23% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

36.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 48.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (29%), White British (28%) and Asian (15%).

In 2026, 342 pupils (20.7%) received SEN support and 19 (1.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Redland Rail Station, about 570 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cotham Hill (e-bound), 140 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cotham School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1623 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bristol, City of (417), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Cotham School issued 421 suspensions, 25.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Cotham School are Ss Peter and Paul RC Primary School (0.1 miles); Cotham Gardens Primary School (0.2 miles); Willow Park CofE Primary School (0.5 miles); and St Johns Church of England Primary School, Clifton (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.