West Town Lane Academy, Bristol
West Town Lane Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bristol. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 138th-highest of the 198 schools in Bristol with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- 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
West Town Lane Academy in detail
West Town Lane Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a 660 place Primary Academy taking children from the ages of 3 to 11 years. Pupils who attend West Town Lane leave as well-rounded individuals, having fulfilled their academic potential and having developed excellent social skills. Our curriculum is designed to achieve this, by ensuring continuity and progression throughout the children's learning journey."
Coming up: an admissions event on Thursday 5 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 2pm, an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and an open day on Tuesday 1 December 2026 at 4pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Bristol, City of
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at West Town Lane Academy 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 73% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at West Town Lane Academy
For September 2026 entry, 74 families put West Town Lane Academy as their first choice and 168 named it as one of their preferences, for 75 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 West Town Lane Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to West Town Lane Academy are Holymead Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 69% reading, 67% maths); Oasis Academy New Oak (0.7 miles, Good, 81% reading, 71% maths); St Bernadette Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 88% reading, 78% maths); and Knowle Park Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 76% maths).
West Town Lane Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Holymead Primary SchoolOasis Academy New OakSt Bernadette Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolKnowle Park Primary School
What parents say
153 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about West Town Lane Academy (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).
Who goes there
16.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Mixed (8%) and Asian (6%).
In 2026, 80 pupils (12.6%) received SEN support and 19 (3%) 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 Temple Meads Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Town Park (ne-bound), 140 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, West Town Lane Academy issued 8 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to West Town Lane Academy are Oasis Academy John Williams (0.7 miles), Oasis Academy Brislington (0.7 miles), St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School (0.8 miles) and Prospect Education Trust (0.9 miles).
Oasis Academy John WilliamsOasis Academy BrislingtonSt Bernadette Catholic Secondary SchoolProspect Education Trust
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 school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2019, 7 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 Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
West Town Lane Academy excels at creating a warm, supportive environment where every child feels valued and secure. Reading is woven throughout the curriculum from Nursery onwards, helping pupils become confident and skilled communicators. The school places great emphasis on character development and provides diverse experiences - from careers visitors to anti-bullying ambassador roles - that help pupils understand their own potential and develop respect for others.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading from Nursery through Year 6, with a rich reading environment that engages pupils
- Skilled teaching that encourages pupil involvement and builds resilience - pupils proudly identify examples of perseverance
- Well-designed curriculum delivered consistently across all year groups with effective use of external expertise for staff training
- Excellent personal development programme with wide range of extra-curricular activities and community links
- Strong partnership with parents to support good attendance
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils who fall behind in early reading, including disadvantaged pupils, do not receive the additional support they need quickly enough
- Assessment information for pupils working below expectations does not always clearly identify their specific learning gaps and next steps
- Need to ensure assessment data more precisely matches learning to individual pupil needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling safe, knowing their trusted adults, and bullying incidents being rare.
Extracurricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities, career visitor talks, healthy heroes programme, anti-bullying ambassadors, community-based learning experiences
West Town Lane Academy has maintained good standards since its previous inspection in 2019. The school creates a caring, family-like environment where pupils feel secure and develop into confident, curious learners.
At a Glance
16.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
153 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 declined from 73% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 78% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.4
Avg class size
29.2
Infant (KS1)
27.7
KS2
22
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from West Town Lane Academy
Internet Down
25 Sep 2026
Reception spaces available this year
10 Sep 2026
Reception admissions 2027/28
10 Sep 2026
From West Town Lane Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with West Town Lane Academy
Term dates
West Town Lane Academy 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
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to West Town Lane Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. West Town Lane Academy 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
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
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 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 West Town Lane Academy
Will you get a place at West Town Lane Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against West Town Lane Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for West Town Lane Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to West Town Lane Academy.
- 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 West Town Lane Academy for 2014 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
95%
Near capacity
596 pupils
630 places
34 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(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
80
SEN Support
19
EHC Plans
15.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
634
Total Pupils
325
Boys
309
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
19.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,960
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£3236k
Total funding
£152k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
10.7%
Persistent absence
523
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
Questions parents ask about West Town Lane Academy
What are SATs results like at West Town Lane Academy?
Of the pupils at West Town Lane Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is West Town Lane Academy's Ofsted rating?
West Town Lane Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for West Town Lane Academy?
No fixed boundary. When West Town Lane Academy 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 West Town Lane Academy?
West Town Lane Academy was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at West Town Lane Academy?
Classes at West Town Lane Academy average 28.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to West Town Lane Academy?
West Town Lane Academy has around 634 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at West Town Lane Academy?
5.2% of sessions were missed at West Town Lane Academy in 2024/25. 10.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to West Town Lane Academy?
Apply through Bristol, City of's coordinated admissions process, naming West Town Lane Academy 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 West Town Lane Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 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 Bristol, City of is 27 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is West Town Lane Academy?
West Town Lane Academy is at West Town Lane, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5DT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)