Brymore Academy

About Brymore Academy

Brymore Academy is a boys’ secondary school in Somerset with a distinctly practical focus, and it stands out in the local landscape. Among the 26 secondary schools in the local authority, it ranks third by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top 12% of the county. Its closest peers on that measure are The Kings of Wessex Academy (Progress 8 of 0.34), Sexey’s School (0.33), and Preston School Academy (0.23). The school is also one of only a handful of state boarding schools in the area, offering residential places alongside its day provision. With a capacity of 350 and just 346 pupils on roll, it is effectively full, and the 2025/26 admissions cycle saw 77 applications for 33 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.33. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, particularly among families looking for a structured, single-sex environment with a boarding option.

Academically, Brymore delivers results that comfortably exceed the Somerset average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.33 means pupils make about a third of a grade more progress per subject than pupils nationally with similar starting points, and well above the local authority average of -0.2. Attainment 8 sits at 39.7, and 55.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 29.5% at the more demanding grade 5+ threshold. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. The ungraded inspection noted the school remains Good and is improving. That marks a clear turnaround from its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The EBacc entry rate is very low at 1.6%, reflecting a curriculum that prioritises vocational and practical pathways over the full academic suite.

The school’s facilities are unusually extensive for a state secondary: a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and playing fields sit alongside art studios, an ICT suite, and a sixth form centre. Sports provision is broad, with rugby, football, cross country, tennis, and martial arts among the options, and clubs include Young Enterprise, Model UN, and an eco club. SEND support covers a wide range of needs, from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities. Brymore is best suited to families who want a boys-only environment with a strong practical and vocational slant, a boarding option, and a track record of adding significant academic value relative to the local authority. The lack of a formal sixth form means pupils typically move on elsewhere after Year 11.

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