St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School

Since 2022, Mr Del Planter BA PGCE NPQH NPQEL, formerly head of Ashton Park School. Deeply committed to Bristol, the city where he was born and brought up, Mr Planter has not strayed far from his roots, in fact only as far as Exeter, from where he

Admissions to year 7 (216 places in 2025) are done by completing the online common application form to the local authority where the child lives; the school is not far from the city boundary with North Somerset. Almost always oversubscribed,

School is not shy about moving any student on who has missed the academic bar for sixth form, so there is some movement at year 11. Some move too for vocational options at local colleges or the excellent St Brendan’s. In all, ‘a fluctuating

In 2025, 32 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 60 per cent grade 9-5 in English and maths. At A level, 29 per cent A*/A (58 per cent A*-B).

The KS3 curriculum is as broad and balanced as one would expect, with mixed-ability classes in all subjects except maths and some banding in modern languages, where French and Spanish are alternated until year 9, when both are taken. Values in

School is rightly proud of its academic diversity, both in terms of courses which all students can access and the support they receive. The belief that each student ‘has special gifts and talents and is unique in the eyes of God’ opens the learning

SMRT is bang next door to the gracious and lofty Gothic church of St Mary Redcliffe, whose name it bears and which it uses as a place of worship, an assembly hall, performance venue and source of spiritual inspiration. Timetabled music picks and

Not particularly known for its sport, though the head is determined to give it higher priority: ‘It’s a passion for me,’ he told us. The school’s tiny urban footprint means that there is room only for an admittedly well-equipped sports hall, a gym, a

Centre stage here and a huge factor in why parents choose the school. Christian notions of inclusivity, the unique nature of every member of the school community and the contribution they make, equality of opportunity and diversity come together in

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Extremely varied in every respect: geographically, economically, socially, ethnically, linguistically – you name it. And that just the way everyone likes it and why they choose the school – a microcosm of the city they live in. Half of families are

Many of the school’s extras are provided through the efforts of the Friends of SMRT, which parents are encouraged to join and particularly to contribute to the school support fund. Some 40 years ago, however, some far-sighted benefactors set up what

St Mary Redcliffe manages to combine academic opportunities and ambition for all its students with clearly stated Christian values in the heart of Bristol, embracing all comers who can respect faith and diversity of all kinds. For an education which