West Somerset College

About West Somerset College

West Somerset College’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.5 places it significantly below the Somerset local authority average of -0.2 for secondary schools, and it ranks 21st out of 26 schools in the county. This puts the school in the bottom half nationally, at the 83rd percentile. The gap is consistent across every subject pillar: English progress is -0.4, maths -0.31, the EBacc subjects -0.57, and open subjects -0.64. With 24.8 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a higher-than-average proportion of disadvantaged students, which may partly explain the lower headline figures. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Requires Improvement across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a notable drop from its previous Good rating in 2016, when both leadership and overall effectiveness were scored 2. The school is currently led by headteacher Zoe Stucki.

At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 39.7, and just 34.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 57 per cent at grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.4, and only 5.9 per cent of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above, with 23.1 per cent entering the qualification. At Key Stage 5, the sixth form has 57 students and a value-added score of -0.35, which is rated below average. The average points per entry is 26.46, equivalent to a C- grade, and the best three A-levels average out at 27.6 points, also a C-. Just 2.3 per cent of students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The sixth form was also rated Requires Improvement in its 2023 inspection. Compared with the Somerset average, the school’s outcomes are consistently weaker, though the small sixth-form cohort means individual results can vary widely.

The school occupies a large site with capacity for 1,509 pupils but currently has only 760 on roll, suggesting significant spare capacity and likely easy admission for most applicants. Facilities include a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, plus music rooms and an ICT suite. Sports offered range from rugby and football to martial arts and gymnastics, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, and social, emotional and mental health support. It is a non-denominational, mixed, state secondary for ages 13 to 19, with no boarding. Given its current Ofsted rating and below-average outcomes, this school may suit families who prioritise a local, non-selective option with strong facilities and a wide range of extracurricular activities, but who are prepared to work with the school as it addresses its improvement areas.

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