Downend School, Bristol
Downend School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Bristol, part of Pathway Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 16th-highest of the 44 schools in Bristol with published results, and 1,181st of 3,298 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was 99% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to South Gloucestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Downend School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Downend School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.3 in South Gloucestershire and 47 across England.
48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in South Gloucestershire and 47% in England.
That is down from 51 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 33.7, against 50.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.
Getting a place at Downend School
For September 2026 entry, 276 families put Downend School as their first choice and 556 named it as one of their preferences, for 229 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 51 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Downend School are Mangotsfield School (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 40.3); Lyde Green Community School (1.5 miles); South Gloucestershire Hospital Home Teaching Service (1.6 miles); and Bristol Metropolitan Academy (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.4).
Downend School's 2026 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Mangotsfield SchoolLyde Green Community SchoolSouth Gloucestershire Hospital Home Teaching ServiceBristol Metropolitan Academy
The trust
Downend School is one of 20 schools run by Pathway Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
220 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Downend School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 69% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (66%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 229 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.
Of the 78 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 33% into work. 19% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
10.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 130 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 60 (4.2%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bristol Parkway Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westbourne Road (ne-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Downend School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Downend School issued 238 suspensions, 16.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Downend School are Stanbridge Primary School (0.2 miles), St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Barley Close Community Primary School (0.3 miles) and Emersons Green Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Stanbridge Primary SchoolSt Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary SchoolBarley Close Community Primary SchoolEmersons Green Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
There is a strong sense of community at Downend School. The school's 'PRIDE' values are well known to all. These values inform leaders' decisions and influence how pupils conduct themselves in school. Pupils feel safe and well cared for. They have trusted adults they can talk to if they have any concerns.
The school has developed an ambitious curriculum for pupils. Staff have high expectations of all pupils. Most pupils consistently meet these. Pupils are successful in public examinations. Pupils and sixth-form students appreciate the school's enrichment opportunities and the support they receive from staff. They feel well prepared for their next steps.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has thoughtfully designed an ambitious curriculum. This provides pupils with a broad and balanced education. The school has carefully considered the best order to teach the content. As a result, pupils gain the knowledge they need and achieve well. The school's work to increase pupils' appreciation of diversity is woven into the curriculum. For example, in library lessons, pupils read texts together. These books have been carefully selected to build pupils' understanding of different backgrounds.
Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn the same curriculum as their peers. They receive support in the classroom to help them meet leaders' high expectations. Teachers know pupils' needs well. They know how to adjust their teaching to meet individual needs. Teachers ensure that pupils review their learning. They do this by routinely recapping the most important content. This helps pupils remember the most important information.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded 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 Good at its September 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
About
Downend School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, situated on Westerleigh Road in the suburban village of Downend in South Gloucestershire, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
10.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
220 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from 0.35 to 0.10 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 51.7 to 48.7 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 55% to 48% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 48.7 | 47.7% |
| Disadvantaged(27) | - | 33.7 | 25.9% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(212) | - | 50.7 | 50.5% |
| Boys(136) | - | 47.3 | 48.5% |
| Girls(103) | - | 50.6 | 46.6% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(16) | - | 48.0 | 37.5% |
| Non mobile(233) | - | 49.0 | 48.1% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 4 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 229 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.14%
Exclusion rate
238
Suspensions
16.66%
Suspension rate
79 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,429 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Downend School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Downend School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Downend 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
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Downend School
Will you get a place at Downend School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Downend School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Downend School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Downend School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from South Gloucestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Downend School 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
99%
Near capacity
1,424 pupils
1,425 places
1 spare place 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
3,139
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.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
130
SEN Support
60
EHC Plans
13.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,415
Total Pupils
745
Boys
670
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
82
Teachers
17.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,443
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,465
Per pupil
£8433k
Total funding
£143k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.4%
Overall absence
20.8%
Persistent absence
1,269
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
Downend School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Downend School
What are GCSE results like at Downend School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Downend School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.7. 48% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Downend School's Ofsted rating?
Downend School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Downend School?
No fixed boundary. When Downend School 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 Downend School?
Downend School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Downend School?
Classes at Downend School average 23.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Downend School?
Downend School has around 1415 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Downend School?
8.4% of sessions were missed at Downend School in 2024/25. 20.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Downend School?
Apply through South Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Downend School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Downend School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Downend School?
Downend School is at Westerleigh Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 6XA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)