Fishponds CofE Primary School, Bristol

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Fishponds CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders in the trust and in school fully understand the importance of getting provision in the early years right."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff provide a caring, nurturing environment that helps pupils feel safe, welcome, secure and keen to get on with their learning."

Achievement - Needs attention. "In recent years, too many pupils have moved on to secondary school lacking the knowledge they need to be successful, as reflected in published outcomes."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders' work to improve attendance has not made enough difference."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have not yet secured the expected standard in pupils' attendance, behaviour and personal development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Leaders' actions to promote pupils' personal development lack cohesion."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should provide a personal development programme that fully develops pupils' understanding of respect for all, regardless of their characteristics, so that they are prepared for life beyond school. In addition, leaders should take swift and effective action to ensure that pupils do not use discriminatory language, including racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments"; "Leaders should strengthen the school's work to promote high rates of attendance to ensure it has the intended impact, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that the effective teaching practice they have established is more consistent so that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, achieve as well as they should in national tests"; "Leaders should ensure that their actions fully address the weaknesses in pupils' attendance, behaviour and personal development so that these aspects of the school's work meet the expected standard".

In its own words: "Fishponds Church of England Primary School is a large, vibrant and welcoming inner‑city school in the heart of Bristol. As a rich and diverse community, the school embraces a wide range of religions, cultures and languages. This diversity strengthens and enriches its inclusive ethos, where children and families of all faiths - and none - are welcomed equally."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include karate, dance, drama, choir and cooking.

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Fishponds CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Bristol, City of; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 71% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Fishponds CofE Primary School as their first choice and 83 named it as one of their preferences, for 38 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Fishponds CofE Primary School are Avanti Gardens School (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 64% maths); Chester Park Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); Chester Park Junior School (0.5 miles, Good, 71% reading, 61% maths); and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 84% reading, 84% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Fishponds CofE Primary School.

Fishponds CofE Primary School is one of 34 schools run by Lighthouse Schools Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 51% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Asian (25%) and Black (22%).

In 2026, 88 pupils (28.4%) received SEN support and 24 (7.7%) 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.

Fishponds CofE Primary School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 8 places, 8 pupils on roll.

Fishponds CofE Primary School had 22 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Stapleton Road Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hockeys Lane (ne-bound), 90 metres away.

In 2024/25, Fishponds CofE Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 3.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Fishponds CofE Primary School are Bristol Metropolitan Academy (0.3 miles), Bristol Brunel Academy (0.9 miles) and South Gloucestershire Hospital Home Teaching Service (1.2 miles).