What did Ofsted judge Cotham School's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Cotham School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in April 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in October 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Cotham School?

Cotham School has 1,654 pupils on roll.

What ages does Cotham School take?

Cotham School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Cotham School located?

Cotham School is located in Bristol, BS6 6DT, Bristol.

How do I apply to Cotham School?

Cotham School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How far from Cotham School were places offered?

The furthest place offered at Cotham School for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 3.865 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

How are Year 7 places decided at Cotham School?

When Cotham School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' is a child who is in the care of a Local Authority, or being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England. A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after in England, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or residence order, or a special guardianship order, or was in state care outside England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted; 2. Children of Staff — Where the member of staff is employed directly by the school at the time at which the application for the admission to the school is made; 3. Siblings living in the area of priority — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is within the designated areas of priority, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 240 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applications than there are places remaining within a particular category, the direct line distance from home to school will be used as a tie-break. When the furthest distance to qualify for a place relates to a household containing two or more children for whom applications are being made (e.g. twins), places will be offered to both children. Where two or more children live in a flat or other multi-home dwelling and it is not possible to determine which applicant lives closest to the preferred school as measured in a direct line from the building to the school; the available place(s) will be allocated by drawing lots.

What is the largest ethnic background at Cotham School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 28.4% of pupils at Cotham School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Cotham School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How far did offers reach?

3.865miles

was the furthest place offered for 2026-27 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Cotham School, year by year →

How places are decided at Cotham School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' is a child who is in the care of a Local Authority, or being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England. A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after in England, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or residence order, or a special guardianship order, or was in state care outside England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted.
2Children of Staff — Where the member of staff is employed directly by the school at the time at which the application for the admission to the school is made.
3Siblings living in the area of priority — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is within the designated areas of priority.
4Geography — Children living within the school's designated area of priority (Cotham School).
5Siblings living out of area — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is outside the designated area of priority.
6Geography – out of area children — Children living outside the area of priority and closest to the school as measured in a direct line from the home address to the school.

If two applications tie: Where there are more applications than there are places remaining within a particular category, the direct line distance from home to school will be used as a tie-break. When the furthest distance to qualify for a place relates to a household containing two or more children for whom applications are being made (e.g. twins), places will be offered to both children. Where two or more children live in a flat or other multi-home dwelling and it is not possible to determine which applicant lives closest to the preferred school as measured in a direct line from the building to the school; the available place(s) will be allocated by drawing lots.

Cotham School's Published Admission Number is changing from 243 to 240 from September 2027 as determined by the Full Governing Body.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Cotham School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Cotham School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Cotham School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in April 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in October 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Cotham School?: Cotham School has 1,654 pupils on roll.
What ages does Cotham School take?: Cotham School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Cotham School located?: Cotham School is located in Bristol, BS6 6DT, Bristol.
How do I apply to Cotham School?: Cotham School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Cotham School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Cotham School for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 3.865 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Cotham School?: When Cotham School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' is a child who is in the care of a Local Authority, or being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England. A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after in England, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or residence order, or a special guardianship order, or was in state care outside England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted; 2. Children of Staff — Where the member of staff is employed directly by the school at the time at which the application for the admission to the school is made; 3. Siblings living in the area of priority — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is within the designated areas of priority, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 240 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applications than there are places remaining within a particular category, the direct line distance from home to school will be used as a tie-break. When the furthest distance to qualify for a place relates to a household containing two or more children for whom applications are being made (e.g. twins), places will be offered to both children. Where two or more children live in a flat or other multi-home dwelling and it is not possible to determine which applicant lives closest to the preferred school as measured in a direct line from the building to the school; the available place(s) will be allocated by drawing lots.
What is the largest ethnic background at Cotham School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 28.4% of pupils at Cotham School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Separately-registered childcare operating at this school's site, each with its own Ofsted record.

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Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

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How far did offers reach?

3.865miles

was the furthest place offered for 2026-27 (Year 7). The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.

Last distance offered at Cotham School, year by year →

How places are decided at Cotham School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' is a child who is in the care of a Local Authority, or being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England. A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after in England, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or residence order, or a special guardianship order, or was in state care outside England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted.
2Children of Staff — Where the member of staff is employed directly by the school at the time at which the application for the admission to the school is made.
3Siblings living in the area of priority — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is within the designated areas of priority.
4Geography — Children living within the school's designated area of priority (Cotham School).
5Siblings living out of area — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is outside the designated area of priority.
6Geography – out of area children — Children living outside the area of priority and closest to the school as measured in a direct line from the home address to the school.

Cotham School's Published Admission Number is changing from 243 to 240 from September 2027 as determined by the Full Governing Body.

Cotham School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Cotham School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Cotham School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in April 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in October 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Cotham School?: Cotham School has 1,654 pupils on roll.
What ages does Cotham School take?: Cotham School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Cotham School located?: Cotham School is located in Bristol, BS6 6DT, Bristol.
How do I apply to Cotham School?: Cotham School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How far from Cotham School were places offered?: The furthest place offered at Cotham School for 2026-27 (Year 7) was 3.865 miles from the school. The council's figures don't show whether anyone was refused, so it may not have been a cut-off.
How are Year 7 places decided at Cotham School?: When Cotham School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after and previously looked after children — A 'looked after child' is a child who is in the care of a Local Authority, or being provided with accommodation by a Local Authority in the exercise of their social services functions, in England. A 'previously looked after child' is a child who was looked after in England, but ceased to be so because they were adopted, or became subject to a child arrangements or residence order, or a special guardianship order, or was in state care outside England, and ceased to be so because they were adopted; 2. Children of Staff — Where the member of staff is employed directly by the school at the time at which the application for the admission to the school is made; 3. Siblings living in the area of priority — Where there are siblings of statutory school age in attendance at the preferred school and who will still be on roll in the year of entry and where the home address is within the designated areas of priority, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 240 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are more applications than there are places remaining within a particular category, the direct line distance from home to school will be used as a tie-break. When the furthest distance to qualify for a place relates to a household containing two or more children for whom applications are being made (e.g. twins), places will be offered to both children. Where two or more children live in a flat or other multi-home dwelling and it is not possible to determine which applicant lives closest to the preferred school as measured in a direct line from the building to the school; the available place(s) will be allocated by drawing lots.
What is the largest ethnic background at Cotham School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 28.4% of pupils at Cotham School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Explore nearby

See every school within walking distance, ranked by distance and inspection grade.

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Separately-registered childcare operating at this school's site, each with its own Ofsted record.

Zebras - Cotham School

Wraparound club

Met

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

Interested in this school?Register interest and we'll pass your details on if it joins School Atlas.Register interest

This school hasn't claimed its profile yet, so it can't receive enquiries here. Leave your details and we'll pass them on if the school joins School Atlas.

Cotham School

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Cotham School

Cotham School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

Cotham School

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Nearby schools within 5 km

How far did offers reach?

How places are decided at Cotham School

Cotham School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Nearby schools within 5 km