Ralph Allen School
Bath, BA2 7AD · Bath and North East Somerset · secondary school
Check the area around this school
3rd of 14 secondary schools in Bath and North East Somerset we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 8.6/10 against 891 of them, against 8.2/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 66.3 · 88 | 30% | 2.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.34 · 75 | 25% | 1.88 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 53.8 · 82 | 10% | 0.82 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ralph Allen School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 63.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 54.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.34 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (8.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Lego Robotics, Creative Writing, and Jazz Ensemble clubs, participate in Dance and Theatre Productions, and join the Year 12 trip to Uganda.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,398 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,300. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are places allocated for the next entry year?
What Ofsted said about Ralph Allen School
Overview
Ralph Allen School continues to be a good school, where pupils are proud of their institution and reflect its ethos through high expectations and active engagement. The report highlights a broad curriculum with positive outcomes, supported by passionate staff and a strong sense of community. While the school has made significant improvements in supporting pupils with additional needs, there are specific areas regarding curriculum precision and reading culture that require further development.
Strengths
- Pupils are proud of the school, with "high expectations" driving positive behaviour and a sense of safety.
- The curriculum is described as "ambitious and well-sequenced," with teachers who are "passionate about the subjects they teach."
- Enrichment activities, such as school productions and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, "engage all pupils" and foster community spirit.
- Adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have improved, with teachers now being "more knowledgeable" and supporting learning effectively.
- A "comprehensive careers programme" ensures pupils are well-informed and ambitious about their future plans and higher education.
Areas to improve
- In some parts of the curriculum, the "detailed knowledge the school wants pupils to know is less well defined."
- The planning for the wider reading curriculum "lacks coherence," resulting in a lack of precision in developing confident readers.
- The "focus on a culture of reading is not sharp," and the ambition for developing pupils as readers is not well understood among pupils.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 53.8 |
| 2024/25 | 54.6 |
| 2025/26 | 53.8 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of BA2 7AD, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT