St Bernard's Catholic Primary School, BRISTOL
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bristol, part of The Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 49th-highest of the 198 schools in BRISTOL with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bristol, City of (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Bristol, City of; and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put St Bernard's Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 26 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School are Shirehampton Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 59% reading, 60% maths); Nova Primary School (0.7 miles); Oasis Academy Long Cross (0.8 miles, Good, 55% reading, 56% maths); and Avonmouth Church of England Primary School and Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 55% reading, 66% maths).
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Shirehampton Primary SchoolNova Primary SchoolOasis Academy Long CrossAvonmouth Church of England Primary School and Nursery
The trust
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is one of 7 schools run by The Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 7 schools in The Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust
What parents say
69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Bernard's Catholic Primary School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 78% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (78%).
Who goes there
28.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%), Mixed (12%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 28 pupils (13.9%) received SEN support and 3 (1.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Shirehampton Rail Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pembroke Avenue (ne-bound), 40 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Bernard's Catholic Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School are Oasis Academy Brightstowe (0.3 miles), St Katherine's School (1 mile) and St Bede's Catholic College (1.5 miles).
Oasis Academy BrightstoweSt Katherine's SchoolSt Bede's Catholic College
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in March 2022. Before that, as St Bernard's Catholic Primary School (URN 109246), it was rated Good in October 2012.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where children thrive. Pupils receive strong support to learn, feel safe, and develop into kind, responsible members of their community. The school has high expectations for behaviour and learning, which helps most pupils achieve well and be ready for their next stage of education.
Key Strengths
- Well-structured curriculum that builds pupils' knowledge over time with effective identification of learning gaps
- Strong phonics teaching from Reception Year with good support for pupils at risk of falling behind with reading
- Effective early identification and support for pupils with SEND, enabling them to learn alongside their peers
- Consistent high expectations for behaviour, leading to orderly, calm, and focused learning environments
- Rich personal, social and health education curriculum that develops responsible, active citizens
Areas for Improvement
- In some curriculum subjects, pupils have fewer opportunities to apply what they have learned and deepen their understanding
- Work set in some subjects does not fully stretch pupils to produce their highest quality work across all curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff prioritising pupil safety and pupils trusting staff to support them with any concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Breakfast club, buddy system, safe and happy committee, chaplain-led worship and reflection, safe and happy committee anti-bullying work, community service including food bank collections and care packages for the homeless
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is a warm and welcoming school where pupils are happy, feel a strong sense of belonging, and work hard to achieve well. The school has maintained its good standards since the previous inspection.
At a Glance
26.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
69 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 73% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 70% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
27.7
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
Term dates
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bristol, City of's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is in Bristol, City of; for families living there:
- Bristol, City of's school travel policy: Home to school travel policy
- How to apply: Apply online for home school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 24
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 15 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
3 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 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 St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Bernard's Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Bernard's Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bristol, City of, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School for 2022 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bristol, City of 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
98%
Near capacity
206 pupils
210 places
4 spare places 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 Bristol, City of council
Places available
5,210
Applications
4,287
Got 1st preference
92.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Bristol, City of council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
28
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
15.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
201
Total Pupils
104
Boys
97
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,882
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,753
Per pupil
£1300k
Total funding
£68k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
11.6%
Persistent absence
181
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is St Bernard's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in March 2022. Before that, as St Bernard's Catholic Primary School (URN 109246), it was rated Good in October 2012.
What is the catchment area for St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, Bristol, City of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School average 28.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School has around 201 pupils on roll. 26% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at St Bernard's Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 11.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Bristol, City of's coordinated admissions process, naming St Bernard's Catholic Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 24 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 15 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 3 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Bernard's Catholic Primary School?
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School is at Station Road, Shirehampton, BRISTOL, BS11 9TU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)