Teaching in Bristol

Bristol has a population of about 442,500 and is the largest city in the South West of England.  There are currently more children under the age of sixteen in the city than people of a pensionable age and 16% of the population belongs to black or ethnic minority groups.

The city has over a hundred schools, most Ofsted-rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, each offering unique challenges and opportunities. An increasingly diverse student population provides extensive opportunities to work in a range of urban and suburban settings. Many schools have benefited from extensive capital funding to ensure education buildings are of a high standard and in some cases ‘state of the art’.

If you are passionate about teaching, a Bristol school is a great opportunity to test yourself, develop and grow. All Bristol schools share a commitment to nurturing talent, and work together to provide opportunities and support both NQTs and students from the PGCE, School Direct and Teach First programmes.

Bristol schools offer a supportive, collaborative working environment, both amongst the staff of individual schools and between schools.

England’s first UNESCO Learning City

Bristol has become England’s first UNESCO Learning City, a city where we work in partnership to create and promote learning opportunities for everyone, of all ages and from all communities, in all parts of the city.

An education-specific Challenge Group has been set up to focus on continuing to raise the attainment of all students through formal learning in Bristol schools, colleges and universities.

For the first time in 2014, Bristol exceeded the national average for GCSE’s with 55% of pupils attaining 5 GCSE’s at grade C or above (including English and Maths).  However, gaps in attainment remain across the city with over 90% of children attaining this level in the areas of Redland and Clifton East, but only 35% in Lawrence Hill.

The Learning in Education Challenge Group is committed to making sure every child has the same opportunities.  The Challenge Group wants to continue to increase the number of good and outstanding schools by recruiting and retaining the best education workforce and focus on raising the attainment of underachieving students through the development of an Excellence in Schools Group.

Pathways for young people’s journeys into adult life and employment are also being supported through specific Challenge Group work. The development of the WORKS Hub and Portfolio ensures employers and learning providers are engaging with the citizens of Bristol to support them into their future careers.