Secondary school

Cotham School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Bristol
  • BS6 6DT
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Apr 2018

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 745 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 23%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 47%47%2016/17: top 34%2017/18: top 25%2018/19: top 51%2021/22: top 32%2022/23: top 42%2023/24: top 48%2024/25: top 23%No exams

A-level results

#99 of 224 South West sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against South West

Attainment 851.8 · South West 45.59/10 Top 20%+8.4 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths54.1% · South West 44.2%8/10 Above
EBacc point score4.85 · South West 3.989/10 Top 20%+5.1 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.10 · South West −0.027/10 Above+13.1 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry35.06 · South West 33.677/10 Above+30.6 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 50.6 · 211 pupils · South West 50.22016/17: 49 · 213 pupils · South West 45.62017/18: 51.2 · 213 pupils · South West 45.72018/19: 46 · 214 pupils · South West 45.82021/22: 52.2 · 212 pupils · South West 47.52022/23: 47.4 · 236 pupils · South West 45.42023/24: 46.2 · 219 pupils · South West 45.32024/25: 51.8 · 231 pupils · South West 45.4552.246No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 58% · 213 pupils · South West 39%2017/18: 54% · 213 pupils · South West 40%2018/19: 42% · 214 pupils · South West 39%2021/22: 57% · 212 pupils · South West 46%2022/23: 45% · 236 pupils · South West 42%2023/24: 45.7% · 219 pupils · South West 44.1%2024/25: 54.1% · 231 pupils · South West 44.2%58%42%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 31.22 · 214 pupils · South West 29.292016/17: 33.56 · 220 pupils · South West 30.032017/18: 31.3 · 183 pupils · South West 30.252018/19: 33.78 · 188 pupils · South West 31.572021/22: 34.98 · 170 pupils · South West 36.992022/23: 31.5 · 178 pupils · South West 33.142023/24: 33.84 · 181 pupils · South West 33.012024/25: 35.06 · 187 pupils · South West 33.6735.0631.22No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in99.4%
159 of 160 who put it first2014 · 72.9%2026 · 99.4%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st160159
2nd25261
3rd24827

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2023

  1. 2005Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2008Goodas predecessor
  3. 2010Outstandingas predecessor
  4. 2018Good
  5. 2023Remains Good

5 strong areas

  • Outcomes for pupils
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management
  • Personal development, behaviour and welfare
  • 16 to 19 study programmes
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment

0 weak areas

5 areas graded

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,654
Free school meals (past 6 years)39.0%
First language not English49.8%
SEN support19.4%
EHC plan1.3%
Absence (sessions missed)9.0%
Persistently absent pupils28.8%

Girls 47.4%Boys 52.6%

100.7% full · 1,642 places · 438 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 281 responses (17.2% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school87.9% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school87.5% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved80.8% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 60.9% not applicable54.5% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year79.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 29.9% not applicable74.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed66% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child82.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school87.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing85.8% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school91.5% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school89.7% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development74.7% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent85.8% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher18.4
Pupils per adult12.3
  • Classroom teachers 81
  • Leadership 8.8
  • Teaching assistants 30
  • Other support 44.6

Teachers 89.8 FTE · Whole workforce 164.4 · 183 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,865
Spend per pupil£7,817
Staff spend per pupil£6,178
Reserve per pupil£1,118
  • +£1,855,000revenue reserve
  • +£79,000in-year balance

Grants £7,856 · self-generated £105 · premises £431 per pupil

Single-academy trust: COTHAM SCHOOL

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

219 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91.3%
  • Education90%
  • Apprenticeship1.4%
  • Employment0%
  • Not sustained4.6%
  • Unknown4.1%