Culverhill School, Bristol
Culverhill School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Bristol, part of Enable Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Culverhill School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Culverhill School are Turner Court School (1 mile); Elmtree Grove School Ltd (5 miles); Soundwell Academy (5.3 miles, Good); and New Horizons Learning Centre (5.4 miles, Good).
Turner Court SchoolElmtree Grove School LtdSoundwell AcademyNew Horizons Learning Centre
The trust
Culverhill School is one of 4 schools run by Enable Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 25 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college.
Who goes there
26.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 7.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Culverhill School has an education, health and care plan (152 of 152 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Yate Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Abbotswood (e-bound), 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Culverhill School issued 1 suspension, 0.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Culverhill is a school where positivity, acceptance and friendship shine through. Staff ensure that each pupil is at the core of everything they do, reflecting the school's mantra of 'inspire, nurture, thrive'. The warm and nurturing relationships between staff and pupils sit at the heart of the school's success. Pupils are listened to. This develops a strong sense of community and keeps pupils safe. Pupils are extremely proud of their school and attend regularly.
Pupils' behaviour is exemplary in lessons and during social times. They demonstrate high levels of respect and kindness towards one another. Pupils are polite and well mannered. They accept each other's differences. Pupils go out of their way to help and support friends experiencing challenges.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school and trust are aspirational for all pupils. They are unwavering in their determination to provide the very best learning experiences. Pupils' education, health and care (EHC) plans are pivotal to curriculum development. Pathways are designed with precision to meet the needs of pupils. As a result, the school provides an outstanding curriculum that enables pupils to experience significant success academically, socially and emotionally. However, the school is not complacent in its continued drive for excellence. It leaves no stone unturned in finding ways to refine and tweak the already excellent provision.
Careers information, personal development and preparation for life are impressively intertwined within the academic subjects. This ensures that pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their interests. There is no ceiling on pupils' aspirations. The school does all it can to encourage and develop pupils' ambitions. Careers events, work experience, visits and visitors are carefully planned and contribute to pupils being exceptionally well prepared for life beyond school.
From Ofsted's June 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
26.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Culverhill School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Culverhill School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Culverhill School 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
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
4 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Bristol
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bristol
Across South Gloucestershire council
Places available
3,139
Applications
3,164
Got 1st preference
89.4%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All secondary applications across South Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
152
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
152
Total Pupils
98
Boys
54
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,728
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.2%
Overall absence
25.2%
Persistent absence
155
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Culverhill School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Culverhill School
What are SATs results like at Culverhill School?
Of the pupils at Culverhill School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Culverhill School's Ofsted rating?
Culverhill School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2012 it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Culverhill School?
No fixed boundary. When Culverhill School is oversubscribed, South Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Culverhill School?
Culverhill School has around 152 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Culverhill School?
8.2% of sessions were missed at Culverhill School in 2024/25. 25.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Culverhill School?
Apply through South Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Culverhill School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Culverhill School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 4 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 Culverhill School?
Culverhill School is at Kelston Close, Yate, Bristol, BS37 8SZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)