Downend School Catchment Area
Downend School is an academy converter secondary school in Bristol, South Gloucestershire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1429 pupils, and a capacity of 1425 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,429
Pupils
1,425
Capacity
100%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2014
Downend School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Downend School?
The catchment area for Downend School is the geographic zone South Gloucestershire 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. South Gloucestershire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Downend School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with South Gloucestershire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when South Gloucestershire publishes the 2027 Downend School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by South Gloucestershire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find South Gloucestershire catchment area documents →Downend School: at or above its 1425 place limit
Downend School has a published admission number of 1425 places. 1429 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 100%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1425 places. South Gloucestershire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 11% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Bristol.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
South Gloucestershire 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. Find South Gloucestershire school admissions →
Downend School: School Information
- Full address
- Westerleigh Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 6XA
- Local authority
- South Gloucestershire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 11% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 139345
Other Secondary Schools in Bristol
If Downend School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bristol are the next closest alternatives.
Brimsham Green School Catchment Area
Community school · BS37 7LB
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BS1 6RT
St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · BS14 9LS
John Cabot Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · BS15 8BD
Bristol Brunel Academy Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · BS15 1NU
Bristol Cathedral Choir School Catchment Area
Academy sponsor led · BS1 5TS
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Downend 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.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Downend School
What is the catchment area for Downend School? ▾
The catchment area for Downend School is the geographic zone South Gloucestershire 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. South Gloucestershire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Downend School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Downend School currently has 1429 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1425 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Downend School? ▾
Admission to Downend School is managed by South Gloucestershire. 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 Downend School cover? ▾
Downend School is a secondary school in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, 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 Downend School? ▾
Downend School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2014. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.