Bishop Fox's School

About Bishop Fox's School

Bishop Fox's School sits comfortably above the Somerset average when it comes to academic progress. The school's Progress 8 score of 0.17 means pupils here achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject than students across the country with similar starting points, and it's a significant step up from the local authority average of -0.2. That places Bishop Fox's 7th out of 26 secondary schools in Somerset, putting it in the top quarter of the county. It's not quite rubbing shoulders with the very top performers like The Kings of Wessex Academy (0.34), but it's a strong, solid result that suggests consistent value added across the board. The school is also comfortably oversubscribed: for 221 places in 2025/26, it received 537 applications, with 271 putting it as their first choice. That level of demand tells you local families see it as a reliable option.

Digging into the detail, the school's Attainment 8 score sits at 46.6, which is broadly in line with the national average. Where it really shines is in the English Baccalaureate: the EBacc average point score is 4.12, and the Progress 8 score specifically for EBacc subjects is 0.39, well above the school's overall figure. That suggests pupils taking the full suite of core academic subjects are making particularly strong progress. Maths progress is also positive at 0.11, though English progress sits slightly below at -0.12. The basics measure — pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in both English and maths — comes in at 44.1%, while the grade 4+ threshold is 67.2%. Ofsted last inspected in 2023 and confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held consistently across its recent inspections. Leadership and management were also judged Good.

The school is a secondary for ages 11 to 16 with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. Facilities are generous for a state school: there's a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, and a theatre, plus a chapel on site. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, drama, choir, and a newspaper group, while sports on offer range from hockey and rugby to martial arts. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering ten different needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 21.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is more diverse than many local schools. Given its strong Progress 8 score and high demand, Bishop Fox's suits families who want a solid state education without the pressure of a selective or faith-based entry.

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