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Academy sponsor led · Bristol, City of

E-ACT Bristol Academy South

  • 3–18Ages
  • 1,018Pupils
  • All-throughPhase
  • 151302URN

Gatehouse Avenue, Withywood, Bristol, BS13 9AJ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Safeguarding not effective

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Inadequate
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.3per place
0.9 below Bristol, City of median (2.2)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bristol, City of

157 applications for 123 places · 24th of 24 in Bristol, City of
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
30.4of 90
22nd of 22 in Bristol, City of
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Safeguarding: not effective at the latest graded inspection

Overall effectiveness: Inadequate · 19 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationInadequate
Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
Personal developmentInadequate
Leadership and managementInadequate
Early years provisionInadequate
Sixth form provisionInadequate

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.3applications per place, Year 7
0.9 below Bristol, City of median (2.2) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

157 applications · 123 places offered · 112 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.3; Bristol, City of median median 2.2
  2. 2025 1.1; Bristol, City of median median 2.1
  3. 2024 1.5; Bristol, City of median median 2.4; as the previous school
  4. 2023 1.3; Bristol, City of median median 2.2; as the previous school
  5. 2022 1.1; Bristol, City of median median 2.2; as the previous school
  6. 2021 1.0; Bristol, City of median median 2.2; as the previous school
  7. 2020 1.0; Bristol, City of median median 2.2; as the previous school
  8. 2019 1.0; Bristol, City of median median 2.2; as the previous school
  9. 2018 1.0; Bristol, City of median median 2.5; as the previous school
  10. 2017 1.3; Bristol, City of median median 2.1; as the previous school
  11. 2016 1.5; Bristol, City of median median 2.0; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.6; Bristol, City of median median 2.1; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.4; Bristol, City of median median 2.0; as the previous school
  • This school
  • Bristol, City of median

Dashed bars: as Merchants' Academy (URN 135597), the previous school.

Reception entry, September 2026: 2.2 per place (70 applications for 32 places).

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261231571.31120.91
Sep 20251101231.1690.63
Sep 2024 *1171771.51000.85
Sep 2023 *1762311.31570.89
Sep 2022 *1922111.11410.73
Sep 2021 *1932011.01210.63
Sep 2020 *1681751.01140.68
Sep 2019 *1651711.01000.61
Sep 2018 *1611621.0930.58
Sep 2017 *1602121.31240.78
Sep 2016 *1402091.51360.97
Sep 2015 *1432251.61350.94
Sep 2014 *1672371.41580.95

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

149 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)30.422nd of 22 in Bristol, City of
Grade 5 or above in English and maths17%22nd of 22 in Bristol, City of
Grade 4 or above in English and maths38%
  • This school
  • Bristol, City of median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2022/23, the latest published)−1.23
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)14930.417%38%–
2024/2512429.518%37%–
2023/24–
2022/23 *13829.316%31%−1.23

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
All-through
URN · DfE number
151302 · 801/4019
Trust
E-Act
Capacity
1,410 pupils · 1,018 on roll
Free school meals
65.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery
Has nursery classes
Opened
1 September 2024
Replaced
Merchants' Academy (URN 135597)
Address
Gatehouse Avenue, Withywood, Bristol, BS13 9AJ
Local authority
Bristol, City of

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources