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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Andrew McQuarrie

These are the best secondary schools in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset

Colston's Girls' School is the best state secondary in Bristol, according to a respected guide.

The Real Schools Guide 2019 aims to give a more comprehensive picture than traditional league tables.

Compiled by Reach's data unit, it is published in today's Bristol Post as a print product - but parents can also browse the full data online here.

The guide, now in its seventh year, has been praised by both government ministers and education experts, with former schools minister David Laws calling it "public-service journalism in the best tradition".

The guide takes into account 51 data points, including GSCE results, pupil-teacher ratios, absence rates and Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores.

See below for the top 10 schools across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

1. Colston's Girls' School (Bristol)

With a score of 66.5 out of 100 in the Real Schools Guide, Colston's Girls' School (CGS), on Cheltenham Road, sits at the top of the tree.

The top-rated school in Bristol accepts applications from across the city, meaning a range of backgrounds, beliefs and experiences are represented in its classrooms.

CGS assistant principal Kerry McCullagh said: “When parents choose our school they’re actively making that choice for those high standards, that academic rigour, but also they’ll be choosing a diverse community.”

2. Backwell School (North Somerset)

Backwell School, on Station Road, Backwell, enjoys an overall score of 61.6/100, making it the top-performer in North Somerset. Overall in England, it ranks at 398 out of 3,166.

In its last Ofsted inspection, in 2013, the school won an 'outstanding' tag.

3. Redland Green School (Bristol)

Redland Green School (Barbara Evripidou)

Located on Redland Court Road, Redland Green School boasts an overall score of 57.8/100, making it the second best in Bristol.

In 2018 the average Attainment 8 score among pupils at the school was 58.2, compared with the local authority average of 45.5 and the national average of 46.4.

4. Yate Academy (South Gloucestershire)

Yate Academy, on Sundridge Park, Yate, has a score of 57.2/100 in the Real Schools Guide, meaning it is the best in South Gloucestershire.

Head teacher Isabel Ambrose indicated she was “absolutely thrilled” with the result.

She said: “We’ve set a culture of high performance where being the best, working hard and rigour are really important to us.”

5. St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School (Bristol)

Located in Somerset Square, Bristol, this Church of England school has an overall score of 55.2/100 and ranks as the 667th-best in England out of 3,166.

The last time Ofsted inspectors visited the school, in 2015, they gave it a rating of 'outstanding'.

6. Gordano School (North Somerset)

Gordano School, on St Mary's Road, Portishead, has a score of 54.2/100 and an English ranking of 717 out of 3,166 schools.

It gained an 'outstanding' rating from Ofsted inspectors following their last full visit in 2012.

7. Bradley Stoke Community School (South Gloucestershire)

This school, on Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, has an overall score of 53.6/100, earning it four of of five stars in the Real Schools Guide.

It receives a full five stars in the guide's 'outcomes' category.

8. St Bede's Catholic College

(Google Maps)

This school, on Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, has an overall score of 52.7/100, making it the 793rd-best school in England.

It has earned a full five stars in the guide's 'attendance' category.

9. Bristol Cathedral Choir School

Bristol Cathedral Choir School, on College Green, has a score of 51.3 in the guide - thanks in part to its five-star rating in the 'attainment' category.

Ofsted inspectors delivered a verdict of 'outstanding' when they visited in 2016.

10. Winterbourne Academy

(Google Maps)

Winterbourne Academy, on High Street, Winterbourne, received five-star ratings in the guide's 'attendance' and 'outcome' categories. Its overall score of 50/100 make it the 953rd-best school in England (out of 3,166).

The school was rated 'inadequate' when Ofsted inspectors last visited in 2017.

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