St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School is a mainstream secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 142 of its 753 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 35 (4.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 753 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bristol, City of.
18.9% get SEN support
142 of 753 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.6% have an EHC plan
35 of 753 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health46
- Moderate learning difficulty36
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia31
- Autism25
- Speech, language and communication15
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 753 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Mr Edward Walker
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 26.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bristol, City of
- School reference (URN)
- 109331
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Bristol, City of council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, November 2018; standards maintained (January 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, January 2025).
Contact and getting there
Fossedale Avenue, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 9LS
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Oasis Academy New Oak Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Ilminster Avenue Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–4 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- New Fosseway School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Avonside School Independent · Ages 13–19 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Bernadette Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.4%, EHC plans 0.7% 0.1 miles
- Oasis Academy John Williams Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.3 miles
- E-ACT Perry Court Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.4%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Bristol, City of SEND schools in Bristol, City of
Questions about St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School
How many pupils at St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 142 of the 753 pupils (18.9%) were getting SEN support and 35 (4.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (46 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (36 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School?
Through Bristol, City of council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School?
You can ask for St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Oasis Academy New Oak, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School?
Fossedale Avenue, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 9LS, in Bristol, City of.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.