Gordano School

About Gordano School

Gordano School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.02 sits just a hair above the North Somerset local authority average of -0.04, placing it in the middle of the pack for a secondary state school in the area. That might not sound flashy, but it’s worth noting that the school is the fifth best out of ten schools in the LA ranked by this metric, and it lands at the 50th percentile both regionally and nationally. In other words, Gordano is a solidly average performer that edges out the typical local school by a whisker. Its Attainment 8 score of 48.3 is respectable, and 72% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, which is a decent benchmark. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.33 and the fact that over half of pupils entered the EBacc combination suggest a curriculum that encourages breadth, even if the results don’t dramatically outshine the local norm.

Digging into the detail, Gordano’s Progress 8 banding is officially ‘Average’, and the breakdown shows some variation by subject. Pupils made slightly better progress in maths (0.11) than in English (-0.12), while open subjects (0.04) were broadly in line with expectations. The EBacc element dragged a little at -0.13. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school’s value added score of -0.15 is classed as ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry of 32.49 equates to a C+ grade. Only 15.9% of entries were at AAB or higher. That said, the sixth form is sizeable with 166 pupils, and the best three A-levels averaged a C+ grade. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good across all areas, including sixth form provision, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership. That’s a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012, but the Good judgement is still a solid endorsement of day-to-day quality.

Gordano is a large school, with 2,097 pupils against a capacity of 1,940, so it’s clearly popular and oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 361 applications for 273 places, with 272 first-preference offers made — a ratio of 1.32 applicants per place. The school has a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, plus a strong sports programme covering rowing, rugby, and gymnastics. SEND provision is well-documented, with support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, and coding add depth. With 9.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is slightly below the national average for disadvantage. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, well-resourced comprehensive with a decent academic track record and a wide choice of extracurriculars, particularly if they value a strong sixth form and a central location in North Somerset.

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