Bedminster Down School is a mainstream secondary school in Bristol, Bristol, City of, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 200 of its 1,022 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 46 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,022 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bristol, City of.
19.6% get SEN support
200 of 1,022 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
46 of 1,022 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication94
- Social, emotional and mental health75
- Autism24
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia24
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Hearing impairment5
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,022 (places for 1,080)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Louise Davies
- Part of
- Futura Learning Partnership
- Free school meals
- 38.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bristol, City of
- School reference (URN)
- 138204
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
Graded by area, February 2025; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (November 2023)
Inspected in February 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, November 2023).
Contact and getting there
Donald Road, Bedminster Down, Bristol, BS13 7DQ
Loading the map…
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
- Manor Wood School Independent · Ages 5–16 0.8 miles
- E-ACT Venturers' Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.9 miles
- Compass Point Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Ashton Park School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cheddar Grove Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.1%, EHC plans 1.1% 0.2 miles
- St Peter's Church of England Primary School (VC) Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.3 miles
- Headley Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Bristol, City of SEND schools in Bristol, City of
Questions about Bedminster Down School
How many pupils at Bedminster Down School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 200 of the 1,022 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 46 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bedminster Down School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (94 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (75 pupils) and autism (24 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bedminster Down 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 Bedminster Down 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 Bedminster Down School?
You can ask for Bedminster Down 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 Bedminster Down 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 Compass Point Primary School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is Bedminster Down School?
Donald Road, Bedminster Down, Bristol, BS13 7DQ, 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.