Norton Hill Academy
103%
Capacity
1,765
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Norton Hill Academy
Norton Hill Academy is a large mixed secondary school and sixth form in Bath and North East Somerset, a local authority where no state secondary school currently holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school ranks 7th out of 14 same-type schools in the area based on its Progress 8 score, placing it in the middle of the pack locally. Its top-performing peers in the LA are Hayesfield Girls School, St Mark's CofE School, and Beechen Cliff School, all of which sit above it in the rankings. With 1,765 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,718, the school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 433 applications for 268 places, with 260 first-preference offers made. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.62, meaning competition for places is noticeable but not extreme. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Gordon Green.
Academically, Norton Hill performs solidly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.16 is just above the LA average of 0.15 and is rated as 'Average' nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 52.2, and 79.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 52.3%, with 37.2% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school's value-added score of 0.21 is rated 'Above average', and the average points per entry of 35.8 equates to a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, the school was judged 'Good' overall, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. Leadership and management, and quality of education, were both rated Good. Parent feedback is strong: 89% would recommend the school, and 91% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, rugby, football, dance, and martial arts, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to Eco Club, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND provision covers 11 categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability, though parent views on SEND support are mixed: 69% agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, but 26% disagreed or strongly disagreed. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying should be prepared for competition. It suits families looking for a large, well-regarded comprehensive with strong sixth-form outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value good behaviour and personal development as much as academic results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Charlton Road, Radstock, Bath and North East Somerset, BA3 4AD |
| Headteacher | Gordon Green |
| Local Authority | Bath and North East Somerset |
| Number of Pupils | 1,765 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,765 / 1,718 (103% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.16)
1182nd of 3,141
Nationally
105th of 306
In South West
7th of 14
In Bath and North East Somerset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
38.5
'22/23
36.8
'23/24
35.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2360%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 290 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)60%
- FE college27%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Sixth form college2%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 160 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
22%
Russell Group
16%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)55%
- Employment31%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained3%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics32
- History31
- Psychology28
- Biology26
- Geography24
- Sociology22
- Chemistry19
- Physics19
- Religious Studies19
- Business Studies:Single18
- Art and Design (Fine Art)15
- Economics13
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
123 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed268
433
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
260 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:25
Source: nortonhillschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.0%
- White (other)3.9%
- Mixed3.0%
- Asian1.0%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Norton Hill Academy
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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Charlton Road, Radstock
Bath and North East Somerset, BA3 4AD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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