Ofsted: Good trending_up High Demand emoji_events #4 in South Gloucestershire public Top 12% UK

Downend School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMiss Linda Ferris

corporate_fareCASTLE SCHOOL EDUCATION TRUST

location_onBristol, BS16 6XA

language Visit Website phone 1454862300

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2019

groups

Students

1,361

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#5 in South Gloucestershire

#812 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Downend School is a Academy converter secondary school in Bristol, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Highly competitive: 1.5× more applications than places — plan well ahead.

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School Summary

Downend School is an academy converter in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of CASTLE SCHOOL EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,429 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 51, placing the school #5 in South Gloucestershire and #812 of 3,216 nationally. 53.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 25.4% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 41.3% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 19.1% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.23 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2019. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.5× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 6.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

53.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)25.4%

Entering EBacc34.80%

EBacc APS4.61

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24.90%

EBacc APS4.27

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS4.58

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.03

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS4.77

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.08

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc63%

EBacc APS4.3

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.23

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*7.6%

Achieving A*–A19.1%

Achieving A*–B41.3%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate98.7%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.13

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate96.40%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.50%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 October 2024

Inspection Report

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09 January 2019

Inspection Report

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23 September 2014

Inspection Report

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01 March 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2019-01-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-09-23

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-03-15

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

5.9%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.2%(46 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,429 pupils. During this period, there were 85 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.9%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,429	85	5.9%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,433	91	6.4%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,409	66	4.7%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,411	92	6.5%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,410	71	5.0%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,358	33	2.4%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,361	31	2.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,359	27	2.0%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,333	18	1.4%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,338	16	1.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,342	33	2.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,320	16	1.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,325	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,325	21	1.6%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,312	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,312	12	0.9%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,315	19	1.4%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,227	15	1.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,228	12	1.0%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,229	18	1.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,111	11	1.0%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,112	11	1.0%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,109	20	1.8%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,047	26	2.5%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,051	13	1.2%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,057	18	1.7%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 48 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 36 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 28 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Visual Impairment 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

88.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

88.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree18%

agree64%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree17%

agree53%

disagree20%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree25%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

not applicable21%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes26%

no74%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree14%

agree37%

disagree32%

strongly disagree18%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree30%

agree49%

disagree13%

strongly disagree1%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree35%

agree48%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree20%

agree54%

disagree18%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree62%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree35%

agree55%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree20%

agree45%

disagree16%

strongly disagree6%

don't know12%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

Top Secondary Schools in South Gloucestershire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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Good

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Good

location_on Bristol, BS36 1JL

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John Cabot Academy

Good

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Bradley Stoke Community School

Good

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Abbeywood Community School

Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in South Gloucestershire

Yate Academy

The Castle School

Winterbourne Academy

John Cabot Academy

Bradley Stoke Community School

Abbeywood Community School