Schools by area › Somerset › Bridgwater College Academy
Bridgwater College Academy
All-through · Mixed · Ages 3–16 · Sponsored academy
Parkway, Bridgwater TA6 4QY · bridgwatercollegeacademy.org · 01278 727327
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 31.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Somerset 43.5, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,561
- 83% of 1,880 places
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Sixth form
- No
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 36.1%
- First language not English
- 19.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 107 families put the school first and 120 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 120 | 107 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 112 | 104 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 102 | 99 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 115 | 97 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 114 | 106 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 31.9, and 16% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Somerset it was 43.5, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 25% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 4% the higher standard. Across Somerset it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼25% | 62% | ||
| ▼4% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼100 | 106 | ||
| ▼99 | 105 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼31.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼16.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼36.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲79.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.85 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 6 | +0.2 |
| Further education | 69.9 | +2.8 |
| Other education | 1.8 | +0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 6 | +0.8 |
| Employment | 2.4 | −4.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.8 | −3.8 |
| Activity not captured | 6 | +4.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Bridgwater College Academy on 10 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Urgent improvement
- Curriculum and teaching: Urgent improvement
- Achievement: Urgent improvement
- Attendance and behaviour: Urgent improvement
- Personal development and well-being: Needs attention
- Early years: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Urgent improvement
- Inspected
- 10 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Urgent improvement |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Urgent improvement |
| Achievement | Urgent improvement |
| Attendance and behaviour | Urgent improvement |
| Personal development and well-being | Needs attention |
| Early years | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Urgent improvement |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, May 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
May 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Feb 2020Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective May 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
46% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (76 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 46%
- Positive
- 38%
- Replies
- 76
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 95% who raised concerns
based on 32 parents (42%) whose child was bullied
based on 20 parents (26%) with SEND