The King Alfred School
Highbridge, TA9 3EE · Somerset · secondary school
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22nd 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.2/10 against 807 of them, against 1.6/10 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 | 29.5 · 15 | 30% | 0.44 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.53 · 15 | 25% | 0.36 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.7 · 23 | 10% | 0.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The King Alfred School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, following an inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 33.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.5, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.53 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, access peripatetic music lessons, and attend an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,269 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,375. 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 close the gap between their Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about The King Alfred School
Overview
The report describes a school with a "strong sense of community" where pupils feel safe and enjoy positive relationships with staff. Leaders have established an "ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum" and effective behaviour systems, resulting in a calm site where bullying is rare.
Strengths
- Pupils display "positive attitudes towards their learning" and understand the consistent behaviour systems in place.
- Teachers demonstrate "strong subject knowledge" and use effective strategies, such as recall quizzes, to check understanding.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "well supported" through tailored curriculum planning and alternative provision.
- There is a "wide range of enrichment opportunities," including trips, societies, and a detailed careers programme.
- Governance has "strengthened significantly," with governors and the trust working effectively to support and hold leaders to account.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, "core knowledge that pupils need to learn is not broken down into sufficient detail," preventing secure knowledge building.
- Staff delivering the new phonics programme "have not received appropriate training," limiting their ability to support early readers effectively.
- A minority of parents feel that "communication between school and home could be improved."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with robust recruitment processes, statutory training for all staff, and strong community links to ensure vulnerable pupils receive necessary help.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.7 |
| 2024/25 | 40.5 |
| 2025/26 | 40.7 |
| 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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