Robert Blake School
105%
Capacity
1,042
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Robert Blake School
Robert Blake School in Somerset is a mixed secondary for 11 to 16 year olds that currently houses 1,042 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 990. That overspill is a practical reflection of local demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 192 applications for 152 places, with 140 of those coming as first preferences. The school is officially oversubscribed, with a ratio of 1.26 applicants per place. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage, with 33.7% of students eligible for free school meals. That figure is well above the national average for secondary schools, which sits at roughly 23%, and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of economic deprivation. The headteacher is Deb Loveridge, and the school has no religious character or sixth form provision, meaning most students will need to move on after Year 11.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023 rated it Requires Improvement overall, a repeat of its previous rating from 2019. However, inspectors did note some strengths: behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development, were both graded Good. Leadership and management, and quality of education, were both rated Requires Improvement. In terms of exam results, the school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.53, which is well below average nationally and significantly worse than the Somerset local authority average of -0.2. The school ranks 22nd out of 26 secondary schools in the county on this measure, placing it in the bottom 15% locally. Attainment 8 sits at 38.6, and just over half of pupils (53.4%) achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 3.43, with 36.6% of pupils entering the EBacc combination.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and dedicated music rooms, plus a library and ICT suites. Sports on offer include netball, football, cricket, gymnastics, and dance, while clubs range from art and science to debate, orchestra, and gardening. The SEND department covers a broad spectrum of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. Given its oversubscribed status and high FSM intake, this is a school that clearly serves its local community, but parents should weigh the academic outcomes carefully. The school is not selective and has no sixth form, so it suits families looking for a mainstream state option through to GCSE, particularly those who value the range of extracurricular activities and on-site facilities over top-tier academic rankings.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hamp Avenue, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 6AW |
| Headteacher | Deb Loveridge |
| Local Authority | Somerset |
| Number of Pupils | 1,042 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,042 / 990 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 20 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.53)
2642nd of 3,141
Nationally
274th of 306
In South West
22nd of 26
In Somerset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 158 pupils).
- FE college79%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship4%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
92% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed152
192
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
140 families put this school as their 1st choice (73% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
08:00-08:55
Source: robertblake.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.5%
- White (other)10.0%
- Mixed3.3%
- Asian1.8%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
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 Robert Blake 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hamp Avenue, Bridgwater
Somerset, TA6 6AW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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