Classpot

Ansford Academy

Somerset, BA7 7JJSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
May 2026
Progress 8
-0.42
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
70 1st-choice / 77 places
Ranking
#2,482
of 3,141 nationally

About Ansford Academy

Ansford Academy in Somerset received 104 applications for 77 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.35. Of those applications, 70 were first-preference choices, and 70 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests that while the school is not the most sought-after in the area, it remains a popular choice for local families. ParentView data is not available for this school, so we don't have a direct recommendation percentage from parents. However, the fact that the school is oversubscribed indicates that enough families see it as a viable option for their children. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Duncan Powell. It currently has 516 pupils against a capacity of 760, meaning there is room for growth.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressMaggs Lane, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7JJ
HeadteacherDuncan Powell
Local AuthoritySomerset
Number of Pupils516
Free School Meals (FSM)18.5%
School Capacity516 / 760 (68% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

31 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 10 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Dining HallSixth Form CentreTheatreSports HallLibraryICT SuiteSwimming PoolScience LabsArt StudiosMusic Rooms

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

Martial ArtsRugbyFootballAthleticsBasketballRoundersRowingDanceGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DramaEco ClubChessModel United NationsScience ClubCodingDuke of EdinburghFilm ClubNewspaper

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:30

Source: ansford.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Ansford Academy

Ansford Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.