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catchment.school

Cotham School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Cotham School is an academy converter secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1655 pupils, and a capacity of 1480 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,655

Pupils

1,480

Capacity

112%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2018

Cotham School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Cotham School?

The catchment area for Cotham School is the geographic zone Bristol, City of uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bristol, City of publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Cotham School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bristol, City of. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 1655 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1480 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bristol, City of publishes the 2027 Cotham School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bristol, City of before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Bristol, City of catchment area documents →

Cotham School: heavily oversubscribed at 112% capacity

Cotham School has a published admission number of 1480 places. 1655 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 112%. At 112% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bristol, City of allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 37.8% of pupils at Cotham School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bristol, City of.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Bristol, City of publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Bristol, City of Council school admissions (official) →

Cotham School: School Information

Full address
Cotham Lawn Road, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6DT
Local authority
Bristol, City of
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
37.8% of pupils
DfE URN
137440

Other Secondary Schools in Bristol

If Cotham School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bristol are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Cotham School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cotham School

What is the catchment area for Cotham School?

The catchment area for Cotham School is the geographic zone Bristol, City of uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bristol, City of publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Cotham School oversubscribed?

Yes, Cotham School currently has 1655 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1480 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Cotham School?

Admission to Cotham School is managed by Bristol, City of. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Cotham School cover?

Cotham School is a secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Cotham School?

Cotham School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2018. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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