Bristol Cathedral Choir School

Bristol Cathedral Choir School has been judged as 'Good' overall, marking a transition from its previous 'Outstanding' grade six years ago. The school's leadership has effectively managed changes, fostering a culture of high expectations and safety for its diverse pupil population, particularly those who are vulnerable. Although the quality of education has been recognized as good, with a strong sixth-form provision rated as outstanding, there are areas for improvement regarding consistency in assessing pupils’ work to ensure all students are completing assignments accurately and fully.

Strengths

• Leaders foster a culture of high expectations among pupils.
• The school maintains a safe and calm learning environment.
• High-quality music provision is central to the school's offerings.
• Staff provide strong pastoral support and promote fundamental British values.
• The sixth-form students serve as exceptional role models.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent checking of pupils' learning may lead to incomplete or inaccurate work.

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 Cathedral Choir School attended 91.6% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 23.3% 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, 5.3% of pupils at Bristol Cathedral Choir School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No 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 Cathedral Choir School had 17.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% 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, 13.5% of pupils at Bristol Cathedral Choir School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.5% 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 Cathedral Choir School received £8,606 and spent £8,534 for each of its 1,187 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £52,000 (£44 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Amplify Education, income was £8,102 and spending £8,050 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 Cathedral Choir School is part of Amplify Education, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Cathedral Primary School Bristol
• Ashton Gate Primary School Bristol
• Hotwells Primary School Bristol
• Victoria Park Primary School Bristol
• Parson Street Primary School Bristol
• St Werburgh's Primary School Bristol
• Henleaze Junior School Bristol
• Henleaze Infant School Bristol
• Headley Park Primary School Bristol
• Trinity Academy Bristol

What is Bristol Cathedral Choir School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bristol Cathedral Choir School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Bristol Cathedral Choir School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bristol Cathedral Choir School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Bristol Cathedral Choir School have?

Bristol Cathedral Choir School has 1,192 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bristol Cathedral Choir School cover?

Bristol Cathedral Choir School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Bristol Cathedral Choir School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 53.5, and 59% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Bristol Cathedral Choir School?

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is at College Square, Bristol, BS1 5TS.