Our website will be down for maintenance between 10am and midday, Monday 23 December. Sorry for any inconvenience.

There's a problem with our search function at the moment, if you can't find what you're looking for please use Google or Bing.

The different types of secondary schools in Bristol.

For all types of school you apply to your home council for a school place. Some schools need supplementary information forms. 

Voluntary Aided Schools

Also known as aided schools, these schools are either Church of England or Catholic, and responsibility for management is shared between the local council and the church but with the church playing a greater role.

The governing body is the admission authority and it is responsible for determining the admission arrangements. These will be different from those used by the local council. The governors are also responsible for allocating school places.

Trust Schools and Foundation Schools

These are state funded  schools supported by a charitable trust. The trust is made up of the school partners, working together for the benefit of the school.

The school’s governing body is responsible for setting their own admission arrangements and allocating places.

Academies and Free schools

These schools are independent from the local council and are funded directly by Central Government.

The Board of Trustees is the admission authority and is responsible for determining the admission arrangements. These may be different from those used by the council. The schools are part of the co-ordinated admission arrangements within the area of their home council.  You apply to your local council for a place at these schools.