Bristol Brunel Academy

Bristol Brunel Academy has demonstrated a commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment, despite concerns raised regarding political impartiality and the postponement of a local MP's visit. Inspectors found that safeguarding standards are met, and leaders actively foster an atmosphere of tolerance and respect, which is evident in the positive feedback from staff, parents, and pupils. The school's curriculum is designed to be broad and ambitious, promoting valuable discussions around diversity and current societal issues. The school’s leadership has shown a proactive approach in addressing any concerns, commissioning an independent review to continuously improve practices. Staff widely support the school’s values, contributing to a sense of community and belonging among students. Although no evidence of political bias was found, continued diligence regarding political impartiality and adherence to staff conduct expectations is recommended for ongoing improvement.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to safeguarding and child welfare
• Inclusive environment celebrating diversity
• Leadership demonstrates high expectations and accountability
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
• Effective promotion of British values
• Positive staff morale and overwhelming support for school leadership
• Proactive in addressing feedback and implementing improvements

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Bristol Brunel Academy attended 88.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 34.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 14.9% of pupils at Bristol Brunel Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 3 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Bristol Brunel Academy had 16.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 19.6% of pupils at Bristol Brunel Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Bristol Brunel Academy received £10,363 and spent £10,687 for each of its 1,302 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £760,000 (£584 per pupil).

Across all 33 schools of Cabot Learning Federation, income was £8,647 and spending £8,763 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bristol · Bristol, City of local authority: places and applications

Bristol Brunel Academy is part of Cabot Learning Federation, which runs 34 schools. The nearest others:

• Minerva Primary Academy Bristol
• Summerhill Academy Bristol
• John Cabot Academy Bristol
• Bristol Metropolitan Academy Bristol
• Begbrook Primary Academy Bristol
• The City Academy Bristol Bristol
• Hanham Woods Academy Bristol
• Wicklea Academy Bristol
• Frome Vale Academy Bristol
• Evergreen Primary Academy Bristol

What is Bristol Brunel Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bristol Brunel Academy is Good, from an inspection in January 2026.

When was Bristol Brunel Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Bristol Brunel Academy was last inspected in January 2026.

How many pupils does Bristol Brunel Academy have?

Bristol Brunel Academy has 1,267 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bristol Brunel Academy cover?

Bristol Brunel Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Bristol Brunel Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 44.1, and 41% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Bristol Brunel Academy?

Bristol Brunel Academy is at Speedwell Road, Speedwell, Bristol, BS15 1NU.