Somerset
Bridgwater College Academy
Close to home and non-selective, but attainment sits below the national average and the last inspection asked for improvement.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 33.8 is significantly below the national average. Progress 8 and pupil context may still indicate positive value-added.
- 33.8
- Attainment 8
- 19%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made below-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely below zero.
- -0.80
- Progress 8
- [-1.02, -0.58]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Reception entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 76 | 68 | 68 (100%) | 101 |
| September 2025 | 65 | 59 | 59 (100%) | 86 |
| September 2024 | 69 | 69 | 69 (100%) | 104 |
| September 2023 | 78 | 76 | 75 (99%) | 111 |
| September 2022 | 72 | 66 | 66 (100%) | 98 |
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 120 | 107 | 107 (100%) | 168 |
| September 2025 | 112 | 104 | 104 (100%) | 148 |
| September 2024 | 102 | 99 | 99 (100%) | 151 |
| September 2023 | 115 | 97 | 97 (100%) | 130 |
| September 2022 | 114 | 106 | 106 (100%) | 148 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Somerset’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 198 | 33.8 | — | 19.2% | 3.5% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 187 | 31.9 | — | 16.0% | — | 79.7% | 2.9 |
| 2023/2024 | 166 | 33.0 | -0.80 | 21.1% | — | 84.9% | 3.1 |
| 2022/2023 | 163 | 34.8 | -0.45 | 20.2% | — | 25.2% | 3.0 |
| 2021/2022 | 155 | 40.4 | -0.41 | — | — | 10.0% | 3.3 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Somerset for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 138375 |
| Local authority | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Phase | All-through |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 3-16 |
| Headteacher | Head Teacher Laura Campbell/ Sarah Evans |
| Trust | BRIDGWATER & TAUNTON COLLEGE TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | None |
| Postcode | TA6 4QY |
| Pupils | 1,576 |
| FSM eligible | 36.1% |
Contact and identifiers
Parkway, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4QY
http://www.bridgwatercollegeacademy.org1278727327| DfE number | 4001 |
| UKPRN | 10038345 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2012 |
| GIAS updated | 5 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | 2024/2025 |
| Ofsted published | 28 Jun 2023 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 10 May 2023 |
| Publication date | 28 Jun 2023 |