Secondary school

St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School

  • Voluntary Aided School
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Roman Catholic
  • Bristol
  • BS14 9LS
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Nov 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,848 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 57%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 60%60%2016/17: top 67%2017/18: top 57%2018/19: top 72%2021/22: top 50%50% · 2021/222022/23: top 55%2023/24: top 64%2024/25: top 57%No exams

Against South West

Attainment 844.5 · South West 45.55/10 Middle−12.7 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths37.7% · South West 44.2%3/10 Below−27.4 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.77 · South West 3.984/10 Below−14 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.32 · South West −0.022/10 Well below South West+7.2 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 48.8 · 147 pupils · South West 50.22016/17: 43 · 136 pupils · South West 45.62017/18: 44.7 · 139 pupils · South West 45.72018/19: 42.2 · 130 pupils · South West 45.82021/22: 48.5 · 139 pupils · South West 47.52022/23: 45 · 145 pupils · South West 45.42023/24: 43 · 144 pupils · South West 45.32024/25: 44.5 · 146 pupils · South West 45.4548.842.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 35% · 136 pupils · South West 39%2017/18: 33% · 139 pupils · South West 40%2018/19: 24% · 130 pupils · South West 39%2021/22: 49% · 139 pupils · South West 46%2022/23: 32% · 145 pupils · South West 42%2023/24: 31.9% · 144 pupils · South West 44.1%2024/25: 37.7% · 146 pupils · South West 44.2%49%24%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in77.2%
132 of 171 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 77.2%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st171132
2nd1497
3rd842

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2008–2025

  1. 2008Satisfactory
  2. 2011Satisfactory
  3. 2012Requires improvement
  4. 2014Good
  5. 2018Good
  6. 2025Ungraded visit

4 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

4 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026753
Free school meals (past 6 years)29.2%
First language not English13.4%
SEN support18.0%
EHC plan3.5%
Absence (sessions missed)9.7%
Persistently absent pupils29.3%

Girls 51.2%Boys 48.8%

100.4% full · 750 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 45 responses (6% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school88.9% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school88.9% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved88.9% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 66.7% not applicable80% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year86.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 20% not applicable83.3% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?0% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 0% who said Yes above0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child88.9% agree
  • My child does well at this school88.9% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing88.9% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school93.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school93.3% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development71.1% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent86.7% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher16.2
Pupils per adult11.9
  • Classroom teachers 39.7
  • Leadership 6.7
  • Teaching assistants 8.8
  • Other support 24.4

Teachers 46.4 FTE · Whole workforce 79.5 · 99 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,303
Spend per pupil£8,500
Staff spend per pupil£6,620
Reserve per pupil£403
  • +£304,110revenue reserve
  • −£148,885in-year balance

Grants £8,098 · self-generated £215 · premises £566 per pupil

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

144 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained92.4%
  • Education81.3%
  • Apprenticeship7.6%
  • Employment3.5%
  • Not sustained4.2%
  • Unknown3.5%