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Holyrood Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Zembard Lane, Chard TA20 1JL · 01460 260100

On the mapSearch near TA20 1JL

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Feb 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
42.4
average Attainment 8 score. Somerset 43.5, England 46
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,282
99% of 1,300 places
Local authority
Somerset
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
27.4%
First language not English
11%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Blackdown Education Partnership

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 205 families put the school first and 207 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 249 (Places 240)249September 2023: 229 (Places 228)229September 2024: 237 (Places 238)237September 2025: 193 (Places 203)193September 2026: 205 (Places 207)205Places 207
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262072051100%
September 2025Sept 20252031931100%
September 2024Sept 20242382371100%
September 2023Sept 20232282291▲99%
September 2022Sept 20222402491▲96%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.4, and 29.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Somerset it was 43.5, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (27 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 50.2 (England 46.3)50.22017/18: 45.8 (England 46.5)45.82018/19: 45.7 (England 46.7)45.72021/22: 45.6 (England 48.8)45.62022/23: 45.0 (England 46.3)45.02023/24: 44.8 (England 45.9)44.82024/25: 42.4 (England 46.0)42.4England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼42.446.0
▼29.7%45.4%
▼56.0%64.8%
▼21.6%40.5%
▼3.654.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form32.3+7.1
Sixth form college13.5−12.2
Further education32.8+10.8
Other education0.4−1
Apprenticeship9.6+0.9
Employment3.1−2.9
Not in a lasting destination5.7−2.1
Activity not captured2.6−0.6

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 27.4 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 29.0 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 29.2 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 25.4 (England 32.9)C-2021/22: 29.0 (England 37.9)C2022/23: 26.3 (England 34.2)C-2023/24: 30.6 (England 34.4)C2024/25: 27.0 (England 35.0)C-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
58 studentsC- (27)Well below average -0.79
59 studentsC- (27.2)Well below average -0.75
27 studentsMerit+ (29.4)Below average -0.35
11 studentsMerit (24.1)Average +0.08
12.9%AAB or better
94.3%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2442C (30.6)+0.12
2022/2365C- (26.3)—
2021/2251C (29)—
2018/1968C- (25.4)-0.54
2017/1878C (29.2)-0.15
2016/1792C (29)-0.20
2015/1666C- (27.4)-0.07

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University35.7−5
Further education1.8+0.1
Apprenticeship14.3+9.2
Employment28.6−7
Not in a lasting destination14.3+0.7
Activity not captured5.4+2

Ofsted

Holyrood Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 7 February 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
7 Feb 2023
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, May 2013

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • May 2013Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Mar 2010Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement

What parents said

65% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (169 replies, to 1 January 2024).

Recommend
65%
Replies
169
13% · 1 Jan 2024
Child is happy at school▼68% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼69% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼59% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼80% agreeEngland 83%
Child does well▼75% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼59% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▼77% agreeEngland 84%
Good range of subjects●93% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲93% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼71% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼56% agreeEngland 76%

based on the 86% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼38% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 50% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼31% agreeEngland 67%

based on 42 parents (25%) with SEND

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