Ansford Academy
Castle Cary, BA7 7JJ · Somerset · secondary school
Check the area around this school
21st of 28 secondary schools in Somerset we can score, 35 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 876 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.6/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 20 | 35% | 0.71 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 42.2 · 43 | 30% | 1.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.42 · 20 | 25% | 0.49 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.9 · 44 | 10% | 0.44 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ansford Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.42 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8 out of 10 among them, against 3.8 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Student Council, Student Leadership Team, Head Students, Subject Leaders, Bus Leaders, Year 10 Peer Mentors, Year 9 Tour Guides, and Year 7 Ambassadors.
Getting in
The published school roll is 469 pupils against a stated capacity of 760. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8? How are the leadership roles structured to ensure all pupils can participate?
What Ofsted said about Ansford Academy
Overview
Ansford Academy is a school where leaders have successfully prioritised urgent improvements, resulting in a "calm and joyful" environment where pupils "flourish." The report highlights a "strong standard" in leadership and personal development, with an "expected standard" in achievement, attendance, and teaching.
Strengths
- Leaders have established a "holistic approach" to improvement, ensuring staff have the necessary training and knowledge to deliver the curriculum effectively.
- Pupils benefit from a "comprehensive and coherent personal development programme" that fosters respect, resilience, and a strong sense of community.
- The school provides "extensive pastoral support," with staff building strong relationships with families to help pupils experiencing difficulties.
- Inclusion is effective, with the school promptly identifying additional needs and ensuring pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "fully included in all aspects of school life."
- Careers education is "highly effective," preparing pupils well for future education or employment through meaningful encounters with local providers.
Areas to improve
- The school and trust should ensure that "highly effective teaching is consistently embedded across subjects and year groups so that pupils learn as much as they can."
- The school and trust should "continue to improve pupils' attendance so that more pupils can benefit from the extensive personal development offer and achieve more highly."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.8 |
| 2024/25 | 43.7 |
| 2025/26 | 44.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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