Cotham School is a mainstream secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 342 of its 1,654 pupils (20.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,654 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.
20.7% get SEN support
342 of 1,654 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.1% have an EHC plan
19 of 1,654 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health133
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia107
- Speech, language and communication60
- Autism20
- Physical disability14
- Moderate learning difficulty11
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
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,654 (places for 1,642)
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Joanne Butler
- Part of
- Cotham School
- Free school meals
- 39.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bristol, City of
- School reference (URN)
- 137440
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, April 2018; school remains Good (October 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Cotham Lawn Road, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6DT
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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
- Boomsatsuma Create Agency Independent · Ages 16–25 0.8 miles
- Sefton Park Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Easton CofE Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 1.2 miles
- Claremont School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Ss Peter and Paul RC Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.1%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.1 miles
- Cotham Gardens Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.2 miles
- E-ACT Montpelier High School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 11.6%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Bristol, City of SEND schools in Bristol, City of
Questions about Cotham School
How many pupils at Cotham School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 342 of the 1,654 pupils (20.7%) were getting SEN support and 19 (1.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Cotham School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (133 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (107 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (60 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Cotham 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 Cotham 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 Cotham School?
You can ask for Cotham 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 Cotham 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 Sefton Park Infant School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Cotham School?
Cotham Lawn Road, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6DT, 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.