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Academy sponsor led · Somerset

Bridgwater College Academy

  • 3–16Ages
  • 1,561Pupils
  • All-throughPhase
  • 138375URN

Parkway, Bridgwater, TA6 4QY · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.4per place
close to Somerset median (1.4)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Somerset

168 applications for 120 places · 11th of 23 in Somerset
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
33.8of 90
27th of 27 in Somerset
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Special measures

Report card · inspected 10 March 2026Published 19 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionUrgent improvement
Curriculum and teachingUrgent improvement
AchievementUrgent improvement
Attendance and behaviourUrgent improvement
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsNeeds attention
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 10 March 2026
    Report card · 2 Needs attention, 5 Urgent improvement
  2. 10 May 2023
    Graded inspection: Requires improvement
  3. 5 February 2020
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.4applications per place, Year 7
close to Somerset median (1.4) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

168 applications · 120 places offered · 107 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.4; Somerset median median 1.4
  2. 2025 1.3; Somerset median median 1.3
  3. 2024 1.5; Somerset median median 1.2
  4. 2023 1.1; Somerset median median 1.2
  5. 2022 1.3; Somerset median median 1.3
  6. 2021 1.2; Somerset median median 1.3
  7. 2020 1.3; Somerset median median 1.4
  8. 2019 1.4; Somerset median median 1.4
  9. 2018 1.3; Somerset median median 1.5
  10. 2017 1.5; Somerset median median 1.6
  11. 2016 1.6; Somerset median median 1.6
  12. 2015 1.5; Somerset median median 1.7
  13. 2014 1.7; Somerset median median 1.5
  • This school
  • Somerset median

Reception entry, September 2026: 1.3 per place (101 applications for 76 places).

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261201681.41070.89
Sep 20251121481.31040.93
Sep 20241021511.5990.97
Sep 20231151301.1970.84
Sep 20221141481.31060.93
Sep 20211301581.21230.95
Sep 2020901211.3770.86
Sep 2019971391.4850.88
Sep 2018921191.3810.88
Sep 2017801221.5660.83
Sep 2016741151.6670.91
Sep 2015731081.5720.99
Sep 2014651111.7640.98

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

198 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)33.827th of 27 in Somerset
Grade 5 or above in English and maths19%27th of 27 in Somerset
Grade 4 or above in English and maths39%
  • This school
  • Somerset median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.80
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)19833.819%39%–
2024/2518731.916%36%–
2023/2416633.021%38%−0.80
2022/2316334.820%36%−0.45

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
All-through
URN · DfE number
138375 · 933/4001
Trust
Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,880 pupils · 1,561 on roll
Free school meals
36.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Nursery
Has nursery classes
Opened
1 September 2012
Address
Parkway, Bridgwater, TA6 4QY
Local authority
Somerset

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources