As Bristol heads into the 2025–26 school year, concern is mounting over the performance of its primary schools.

Local TV

Beyond the bottom‑ranked schools, Bristol as a whole is under pressure. Overall, just fifty‑six percent of all primary pupils in the city met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths—markedly lower than the sixty‑one percent national average.

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00:00As Bristol heads into the 2025-26 school year, concern is mounting over the performance of its primary schools.

00:09According to newly published Department for Education data, EAC Merchants Academy stands at the bottom of the list in the city.

00:17Just 26% of its pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths this year.

00:24And its latest offset rating is inadequate.

00:27Close behind, Hembury Court Primary Academy and Compass Point Primary School both saw 30% of pupils meeting the expected threshold.

00:37The former is rated, requires improvement, while the latter holds a good rating.

00:42Nova Primary School fared only marginally better at 33%, also rated good.

00:48These figures place these schools well below the city average, spotlighting persistent challenges as the new academic year begins.

00:58But many people's experiences of Bristol Primary Schools is actually very positive.

01:03Let's chat to locals to find out the positive aspects for Bristol Primary Schools in their experience.

01:08Tell me a little bit about your experience with school. Do you look back on it fondly?

01:12Not necessarily, no. I endured school. But as you grow older, the more you remember things.

01:21And as time passes, one tends to reminisce more than one did.

01:26Because I've been in higher education most of my life, I'm aware that the demography is changing and there are fewer children.

01:38And there are some schools where there are spaces.

01:41And other schools, which are very popular, have long waiting lists.

01:45So, you can't simply transfer from one school to another. It doesn't work.

01:52So, I'm not close enough to the experience to have a strong view.

01:58Beyond the bottom-ranked schools, Bristol as a whole is under pressure.

02:03Overall, just 56% of all primary pupils in the city met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths,

02:11marked lower than the 61% national average.

02:15Across key Stage 2 sats, average-scaled scores in Bristol stood at 105 in reading and 104 in mathematics,

02:25compared with roughly the same levels nationally.

02:29Indicating that while raw scores are comparable, the proportional reaching benchmark remains significantly lower.

02:37Generally, do you think Bristol schools, I don't know how much you know about Bristol schools?

02:41They're adequate.

02:42Yeah, there are some which are obviously very good.

02:44Unfortunately, those are ones where you have to go and pay to attend.

02:48Widening the lens further, the city's performance continues to decline.

02:53Recent reports place Bristol's primary schools in the bottom 10% nationally.

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