Stanchester Academy
About Stanchester Academy
Stanchester Academy is a mixed state secondary school in Somerset, serving 812 pupils aged 11 to 16. Within the local authority, it ranks 14th out of 26 schools of its type on Progress 8, placing it just above the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in Somerset include The Kings of Wessex Academy, Brymore Academy, and Sexey's School, all of which post significantly stronger Progress 8 scores. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 217 applications for 167 places, with 162 first-preference offers made. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged the school as Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019. The inspection found that quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all require improvement, though personal development was rated Good. Parent View responses from 134 families show 92% would recommend the school, with strong majorities agreeing that their child is happy and feels safe.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 134 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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
19 Nov 2024From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 28 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities 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.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 14:50
Source: stanchester-academy.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Stanchester 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications