Somervale Secondary School
Radstock, BA3 2JD · Bath and North East Somerset · secondary school
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10th 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 — 4.1/10 against 904 of them, against 4.4/10 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% | 1.83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.5 · 36 | 30% | 1.09 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.01 · 51 | 25% | 1.28 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.8 · 49 | 10% | 0.49 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Somervale Secondary School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2022. In 2024/25, 39.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.0, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.01 in 2023/24, indicating pupils performed slightly better than those nationally starting from the same point. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 781 pupils against a stated capacity of 839. 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 beyond the national baseline? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 above the national median? How does the school ensure consistent teaching quality following its 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Somervale Secondary School
Overview
Somervale School Specialist Media Arts College continues to be a good school, described as a "happy, caring and accepting" environment where "pupils come first." Leaders maintain an "ambitious vision" supported by the trust, ensuring a well-developed curriculum where staff have "high expectations" and pupils produce work of a "high standard."
Strengths
- The curriculum is "ambitious for all pupils," with "clearly sequenced" subjects that allow learning to build over time.
- Teachers "explain subject content clearly," linking new information to previous lessons and paying careful attention to key terms to improve literacy.
- Behaviour is a strength; the school is an "orderly place where lessons are not disrupted," and pupils enjoy the high expectations.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the "right support" to enable them to do well alongside their classmates.
- There is a "strong safeguarding culture" with clear systems to record concerns, ensuring pupils who need help are "supported quickly."
Areas to improve
- Assessment is "not used consistently across all subjects," causing some pupils to spend too much time studying content they already know, which "slows their progress through the curriculum." Leaders must ensure assessment is used effectively to adapt learning accordingly.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders knowing pupils well and maintaining clear systems to ensure those needing help are supported quickly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.3 |
| 2024/25 | 45.0 |
| 2025/26 | 45.8 |
| 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
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