St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
Bristol, BS14 9LS · Bristol, City of · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 22 secondary schools in Bristol, City of we can score, 24 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 880 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.2/10 among them, against 2.7/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.3 · 25 | 30% | 0.75 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 25% | 0.64 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.5 · 36 | 10% | 0.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, following an inspection in 2025. In 2024/25, 37.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.32 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than peers nationally starting from the same point. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 753 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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
Since Progress 8 is below 0, what specific support is offered to pupils who are falling behind in maths? How does the school ensure that the Good inspection rating translates into consistent daily teaching quality?
What Ofsted said about St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
Overview
St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a calm, orderly environment where pupils feel welcome, valued, and safe, regardless of their background. Leaders and governors work closely together to support the school’s vision and ensure staff workload is managed effectively.
Strengths
- The curriculum is described as "broad and ambitious," with learning that "builds logically over time" to help pupils make connections between new and existing knowledge.
- Pupils behave well and strive to meet high expectations, developing "positive character attributes" through a rewards system that they wear with "great pride."
- Teachers possess the necessary knowledge to explain concepts clearly and support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Pupils receive helpful careers guidance and are "well prepared for their next steps" through events focusing on diverse local employers and further education.
- The personal development programme ensures pupils learn how to stay safe, healthy, and build "positive relationships."
Areas to improve
- The school must prioritise improving attendance, as "too many pupils are still absent too often," particularly disadvantaged pupils who lack secure knowledge.
- Teaching activities are sometimes "not well matched to what pupils know and can do," limiting achievement; teachers need support to design activities based on pupils’ starting points.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.0 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 43.5 |
| 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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