Backwell School
Station Road, Backwell, Bristol, BS48 3BXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Backwell School is a secondary school in Bristol for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 84 schools in North Somerset. It ranks 10th of 44 secondary schools in Bristol. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2020.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 28 January 2020, report published 10 February 2020
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 25 February 2025
Pupils enjoy attending Backwell School. They feel safe and have trusted adults who they know will help them if they are experiencing difficulties. Pupils meet the high expectations the school has for their behaviour. Pupils are keen to do well. Around the school site, pupils are calm and sensible. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils do well in national examinations. Sixth-form students secure the qualifications they need to move on to further education. Pupils know the value of being active citizens. Their views are sought and acted upon. Pupils can see tangible changes to the school that have been made as a result of the work of the student and house councils. The school provides a vast array of opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests. School productions are a source of pride for many pupils. The school makes sure these events are inclusive for pupils with different interests and levels of experience. Sixth-form students are supported to plan their own extracurricular events, helping them to develop their own organisational skills and sense of responsibility.
What the school should improve
- Sometimes, staff do not check what pupils know well enough. When this is the case, pupils' misconceptions persist and the work that pupils complete is not well matched to what they already know and can do. This prevents them from learning as much as they could. The school and trust should make sure that teachers are supported to identify what pupils have learned so that learning activities take pupils' starting points into account.
- Pupils who have particular needs, such as some pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, do not consistently get the extra help they need in lessons. This means that some pupils are not able to fully access the curriculum and learn as much as they could. The school and trust should ensure that staff use the information they have about pupils to remove the barriers to learning that exist.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
268 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
135 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,595 pupils on roll, with places for 1,728
Schools near Backwell School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nailsea School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 52.6 |
| Gordano School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 49.0 |
| St Katherine's School | 5 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 50.0 |
| Clevedon School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.4 |
| Ashton Park School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.8 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Will Penny
- Phone
- 01275463371
- Address
- Station Road, Backwell, Bristol, BS48 3BX
- Local authority
- North Somerset
- URN
- 136722
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.