Oasis Academy Brightstowe Review 2026: A Community School in Transition

Oasis Academy Brightstowe serves the North West Bristol communities of Shirehampton, Avonmouth, and Lawrence Weston. Housed in a state of the art building that opened in 2008, the academy is part of the Oasis Community Learning multi academy trust. The school currently holds an inspection outcome that highlights significant areas for development. Following a graded Ofsted inspection in November 2024, the school was rated Requires Improvement for its Quality of Education and Behaviour and Attitudes, while receiving Good ratings for Leadership and Management and Personal Development.

The school is currently in a phase of leadership transition. While Andráea Davies has served as Principal, the academy is currently recruiting for a new Principal to start in April or September 2026. The academy is known for its "community hub" model, which provides a range of social and emotional support services beyond the standard classroom setting.

The academy occupies a modern, light filled campus on Penpole Lane, designed with wide corridors and open learning zones. As an Oasis academy, the school operates under a set of values known as the "9 Habits," which include being patient, kind, and honest. These are integrated into "Horizon" sessions and daily assemblies to foster a sense of belonging.

The atmosphere is one of focused improvement. While inspectors in 2024 noted that pupils build positive relationships with adults, they also identified that inconsistencies in the curriculum and behaviour management have hindered progress. The school serves a diverse demographic and prides itself on being an inclusive "mixed ability" environment.

Academic performance at Oasis Academy Brightstowe reflects the challenges noted in recent official reports. In 2024, the school achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 33.3, which is below the Bristol local authority average of 45.2 and the England average of 45.9.

The Progress 8 score of -1.01 indicates that students, on average, make about one grade less progress across their subjects than students with similar starting points in other schools in England. This places the school in the national lower tier (bottom 40%) for academic growth. Furthermore, 19.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, compared to the England average of 45.9%.

The curriculum is undergoing significant refinement to ensure greater consistency across departments. The school uses "Oasis Horizons," a trust wide initiative that provides every student with an iPad to enhance digital learning and engagement.

There is a heavy emphasis on literacy and "Additional English" sessions for students who enter the school with lower reading ages. While Science and Mathematics are taught in well equipped specialist suites, recent reports suggest that the impact of the curriculum is not yet uniform across all subjects. The academy offers a mix of GCSEs and vocational BTEC qualifications to provide multiple pathways for its students.

Where Students Go Next

As an 11 to 16 school, Brightstowe does not have an integrated sixth form on site. Most students transition to local post 16 providers in Bristol, such as St Bede's Catholic College, Redland Green School, or various further education colleges.

The academy provides a dedicated careers advisor and guidance for Year 11 students. Destination data from 2020 to 2022 suggests that a small percentage of students progress to highly selective sixth forms, while a larger proportion enters vocational training or apprenticeships in the nearby industrial sectors of Avonmouth and Portbury.

Admissions are coordinated by Bristol City Council. The academy is a popular local choice and has previously been oversubscribed. For September 2026, the academy is consulting on changes to its admissions arrangements to align with other Oasis academies in Bristol, which includes removing "medical grounds" as a specific oversubscription criterion.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous years. Proximity remains a primary factor in the allocation of places for local families.

Pastoral care is a significant pillar of the Brightstowe experience. The school employs a "House" system (Opportunity, Ambition, and Bravery) to create smaller, supportive communities. Personal development was rated Good in 2024, with inspectors noting that students feel safe and well supported emotionally.

The Oasis Hub Brightstowe provides "wrap around" support, including family support teams and holiday activities. The "Bridge" area provides a quieter, tailored environment for students with specific emotional or educational needs.

The school offers a variety of clubs and activities designed to prepare students for life beyond school.

STEM: Digital Innovation

The Oasis Horizons project is the central STEM feature, integrating technology into every lesson. The school also features modern science labs and food preparation rooms, supporting both academic and practical learning.

Creative Arts and Community

The academy hosts a range of community events, including the Lawrence Weston Carnival and "Oasis Grows" gardening projects. After school clubs typically include sports, music, and art, although the school is working to ensure these are consistently attended and integrated into the broader school culture.

Fees & Financial Aid

As a state funded academy, Oasis Academy Brightstowe has no tuition fees. All core education, including the provision of iPads through the Oasis Horizons project, is provided free of charge.

• Tuition: £0
• iPads: Provided by the academy
• Uniform and Trips: Families eligible for Pupil Premium can often access financial support for these costs.

The school day typically runs from 8:40am to 3:10pm. The academy is accessible via local bus routes serving Shirehampton and Lawrence Weston. For families comparing local performance, the Local Hub page can be used to view these results side by side using the Comparison Tool.

• Current Performance: The 2024 Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement indicates that the school is still in a phase of stabilizing its teaching quality and student behaviour.
• Leadership Change: With a new Principal expected to start in 2026, the school is likely to undergo further strategic changes in the near future.
• Academic Pace: Results are currently well below the England average, which may be a consideration for families prioritizing high academic attainment.
• Distance Variation: As an oversubscribed school, entry depends heavily on proximity. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Oasis Academy Brightstowe is a school with exceptional modern facilities and a strong commitment to its local community. While its academic outcomes currently lag behind national benchmarks, the "Good" rating for Leadership and Personal Development suggests a safe and well managed environment for student growth. It is best suited to local families who value strong pastoral support and a technologically integrated curriculum.