Sir Bernard Lovell Academy
Bristol, BS30 8TS · South Gloucestershire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 16 secondary schools in South Gloucestershire we can score, 17 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 872 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.3/10 among them, against 4.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 13 | 35% | 0.47 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 38.1 · 33 | 30% | 0.98 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.08 · 56 | 25% | 1.39 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.6 · 42 | 10% | 0.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir Bernard Lovell Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.08 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.9 out of 10 among them, against 5.0 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,268 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,409. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores relative to similar-intake peers? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 above the national median? How does the new Ofsted framework influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Sir Bernard Lovell Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are proud of their community and enjoy learning within a calm, respectful environment. Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum and effective pastoral support, ensuring most pupils achieve well and are prepared for their next steps. However, the report highlights inconsistencies in teaching quality and significant underperformance in the post-16 provision.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Attendance and behaviour are strong, with a culture where pupils "feel a sense of belonging" and bullying is rare.
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," with staff possessing the subject knowledge to deliver it effectively.
- Personal development is high-quality, helping pupils understand citizenship, safety, and career routes.
- Pastoral support is "highly effective," with swift identification of individual needs and appropriate interventions.
Areas to improve
- Post-16 students do not achieve as well as they should, and leaders have not yet ensured they consistently develop appropriate knowledge and skills.
- Teachers do not always check thoroughly enough what pupils know, meaning teaching is not consistently adjusted to address gaps or misconceptions.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is not consistently effective across all areas of the curriculum.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.3 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 44.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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