Schools and education in Bristol
If you are moving to Bristol for work and have children, schools will probably shape where you live. Greater Bristol is covered by several councils, and each runs its own admissions process. This guide explains the basics. Always check the details with the council for the address you will be living at.
You apply to schools through the council you pay council tax to, even if the school you want is in another area.
- Bristol City Council covers the city itself.
- South Gloucestershire Council covers the northern and eastern fringe, including Filton, Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Kingswood, Yate and Thornbury.
- North Somerset Council covers Portishead, Clevedon, Nailsea and Weston-super-Mare.
- Bath and North East Somerset Council covers Keynsham and Bath.
Comparing schools
- Ofsted reports: search any school on the Ofsted website.
- Performance tables: the Department for Education's "Compare school and college performance" service shows exam results and progress.
- Open days: secondary schools hold them in September and October; primary schools are usually happy to arrange a visit.
Independent schools
Bristol has a large independent sector, including well-known day schools in Clifton and Redland. Each runs its own admissions and assessments, often a year or more ahead.
Colleges and sixth forms
At 16, students can stay on at a school sixth form or move to a college. City of Bristol College, SGS College in South Gloucestershire and Weston College in North Somerset offer A levels, vocational courses, T levels and apprenticeships.
Universities
- University of Bristol: a research-intensive Russell Group university, mainly in Clifton. Its new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, next to Temple Meads, opened in September 2026.
- UWE Bristol (University of the West of England): based mainly at Frenchay in the north of the city, with a strong focus on professional and applied courses.
Bath, Bath Spa University and Cardiff are all within easy commuting distance.
Placements, apprenticeships and graduate jobs
Many large Bristol employers, especially in aerospace, engineering, finance and defence, run year-long placements, summer internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes. Applications for the following September often open in the autumn.