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Colston's School, Bristol

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Colston's School details

Address:

Colston's School
Bell Hill, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1BJ

Telephone:

0117 9655207

Fax:

0117 958 5652

Email:

enquiries@ colstons.bristol.sch.uk

Website:

www.colstons.bristol.sch.uk

Authority:

Bristol

Gender of entry:

Mixed

Age range:

11-18

Number of students:

604

Affiliation:

IAPS, HMC, SHMIS

Gender of sixth form:

Mixed

Last inspection:

April 2005. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Peter Fraser, appointed in 2006.

Background: Academic success is the prime objective at Colston's School, but educating its pupils for life is also a great priority. Founded in 1710 by Edward Colston, the Bristol philanthropist, Colston's began as a boys' school. Girls were admitted in the sixth form in 1984 and it became fully coeducational following its amalgamation in 1991 with the Collegiate School. Located in 30 acres of grounds on the northern outskirts of Bristol, bordering the River Frome, the school draws pupils from a wide mix of social backgrounds. A generous number of scholarships and bursaries are available. The broad curriculum covers design technology to drama and Spanish. Sixth-form options include psychology and sports studies. Creativity abounds at Colston's. Half of all pupils take individual music lessons and many play in bands, orchestras and choirs. Drama is one of the school's main strengths. Colston's is one of the most successful rugby schools, regularly producing schoolboy internationals and educating 20 premiership players in the past. Girls and boys also enjoy success at other sports including hockey, cricket and tennis. The day and boarding school places great emphasis on extracurricular activities from yoga to public speaking and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. The school also has one of the most successful Combined Cadet Forces in the southwest. One of its pupils recently won the award for best RAF cadet in the UK. In addition, there are trips to the school's cottage in mid Wales, self-reliance walks, Alpine ski trips, sports tours and language trips.

Alumni: Tom Varndell, Olly Barkley, rugby players; Chris Broad, former England cricketer.

Higher education: 90%.

Special needs: All pupils are profiled on entry. The school offers learning support for mild dyslexia and other conditions. A full-time head of department co-ordinates the support required. The school does not take pupils with statements but will make a decision about taking on pupils with conditions such as ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, autism and moderate learning difficulties based on reports and professional assessment.

Inspection: April 2005: Colston's School is a successful school with many strengths. The quality of teaching and learning is good and attainment and progress are good. Pupils are very happy, loyal to the school, have a sense of belonging and feel valued in themselves and as members of the community. Pupils receive highly effective pastoral and academic support and benefit from a personal development programme which contributes to their qualities as young adults. The school is very well led. It needs to develop further the use of ICT and redefine some of the school management structures.

Feeder schools: Colston's Lower; Henleaze Junior; Bromley Heath Junior; Elmlea Junior; Hambrook Primary.

Boys' age range: 11 to 18.

Girls' age range: 11 to 18.

Percentage admitted according to academic ability: 100.

Average class size (seniors; 11-16): 24.

Average class size (sixth form): 10.

Colston's School Statistics

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