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OpenAll-throughOfsted: Urgent improvementURN 138375

Bridgwater College Academy

Academy sponsor led · Bridgwater · TA6 4QY

Ages 3–16 · 1,561 pupils · Somerset

School website

Ofsted

Urgent improvement

Attainment 8

33.0

Overall absence

12.0%

Admissions demand

0.97 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Urgent improvement

Inspection date

2026-03-10

Category of concern

Special measures

  • AchievementUrgent improvement
  • Curriculum and teachingUrgent improvement
  • InclusionUrgent improvement
  • Attendance and behaviourUrgent improvement
  • Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
  • Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.80
−20+2
Attainment 833.0
English & maths grade 5+21%
English & maths grade 4+38%
EBacc entry85%

EBacc APS: 3.1

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)46%
Higher standard (RWM)3%
Avg scaled score — reading
100.0
Avg scaled score — maths
101.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
101.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence12.0%
Persistent absence (10%+)32.4%
Unauthorised5.4%
Authorised absence
6.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
7.2%
Enrolments in measure
1,544

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.97 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

99

Places offered

102

1st-preference offers

99

Total preferences (any rank)
151
Preferred offers (top 3)
102
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill83%

1,561 pupils · 1,880 places

Pupils on roll
1,561
Boys / girls
828 / 733
School capacity
1,880
Capacity fill
1,561 / 1,880 (83%)
Free school meals
36.1%
FSM pupils
560
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 3–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: BRIDGWATER & TAUNTON COLLEGE TRUST
Academy trust
BRIDGWATER & TAUNTON COLLEGE TRUST
Sponsor
Bridgwater College Trust
Headteacher
Headteacher Laura Campbell/ Sarah Evans

Location

Address
Parkway
Postcode
TA6 4QY
Town
Bridgwater
County
Somerset
Local authority
Somerset
District
Somerset
Constituency
Bridgwater
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
19 on roll / 24 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (all-through), Ages 3–16, in Bridgwater, Somerset, 1,561 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 36.1%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Open schools in Bridgwater
36
All-through schools in Bridgwater
1
Academies among open schools in Bridgwater
53% (19)
Open schools in TA6
20
All-through in TA6
1
Open schools in Somerset LA
307
All-through in Somerset LA
1

Nearby all-through schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BridgwaterNear TA6

  • Eastover Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 5EX · Somerset

    Ages 5–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence7.1%
    • FSM27.3%
    • Demand0.92

    0.5 miles away

  • Willowdown Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 4FU · Somerset

    Ages 2–11

    • KS258%
    • Absence9.0%
    • FSM22.6%
    • Demand1.00

    0.8 miles away

  • Northgate Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools · Primary

    Bridgwater · TA6 3EU · Somerset

    Ages 2–11

    • KS269%
    • Absence5.5%
    • FSM29.2%
    • Demand2.15

    1.1 miles away

  • Chilton Trinity School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bridgwater · TA6 3JA · Somerset

    Ages 11–16

    • Att843.0
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+38%
    • Absence11.4%

    1.3 miles away

  • Robert Blake School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Bridgwater · TA6 6AW · Somerset

    Ages 11–16

    • Att838.6
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+33%
    • Absence10.5%

    1.3 miles away

  • Polden Bower School

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation special school

    Bridgwater · TA6 4GU · Somerset

    Ages 4–19

    • KS20%
    • Absence9.8%
    • FSM42.4%

    1.3 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Headteacher Laura Campbell/ Sarah Evans
Telephone
01278727327
Website
http://www.bridgwatercollegeacademy.org

Official links