Buckler's Mead School
About Buckler's Mead School
Buckler's Mead School sits within the Somerset local authority, a secondary state school for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16. In the most recent local rankings based on Progress 8 scores, it placed 19th out of 26 schools of the same type, putting it in the bottom half of the county. For context, the top-performing peers in Somerset include The Kings of Wessex Academy, Brymore Academy, and Sexey's School, all of which recorded positive Progress 8 scores. Buckler's Mead's own Progress 8 score of -0.36 is below the local authority average of -0.2, indicating that pupils here make less academic progress than their peers across Somerset. The school is led by headteacher Mark Lawrence and has no religious character. It is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 209 applications for 155 places and 149 first-preference offers, suggesting strong local demand despite the middling ranking.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 May 2024Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Buckler's Mead School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications