Bristol Metropolitan Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 173 of its 1,103 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 67 (6.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,103 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bristol, City of.
15.7% get SEN support
173 of 1,103 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.1% have an EHC plan
67 of 1,103 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 health84
- Speech, language and communication48
- Autism36
- Moderate learning difficulty31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Physical disability7
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
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,103 (places for 945)
- Headteacher
- Mr Kristin Bridgeman (Principal)
- Part of
- Cabot Learning Federation
- Free school meals
- 31.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bristol, City of
- School reference (URN)
- 135959
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
Report card, May 2026: Expected standard in every area
Inspected in May 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Snowdon Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2HD
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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
- Fishponds CofE Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Briarwood School Special school · Ages 3–19 0.7 miles
- Elmtree Grove School Ltd Independent · Ages 4–12 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
- May Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- Avanti Gardens School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 1% 0.5 miles
- Begbrook Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.5%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.5 miles
- Chester Park Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 7%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Bristol, City of SEND schools in Bristol, City of
Questions about Bristol Metropolitan Academy
How many pupils at Bristol Metropolitan Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 173 of the 1,103 pupils (15.7%) were getting SEN support and 67 (6.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bristol Metropolitan Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (84 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (48 pupils) and autism (36 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bristol Metropolitan Academy?
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 Bristol Metropolitan Academy?
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 Bristol Metropolitan Academy?
You can ask for Bristol Metropolitan Academy 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 Bristol Metropolitan Academy 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 Fishponds CofE Primary School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Bristol Metropolitan Academy?
Snowdon Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2HD, 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.