Whitstone
Shepton Mallet, BA4 5PF · Somerset · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th 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 912 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8/10 among them, against 3.0/10 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 | 52 | 34% | 1.78 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 29.1 · 14 | 30% | 0.42 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.06 · 55 | 25% | 1.39 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.7 · 18 | 10% | 0.18 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Whitstone overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in 2022. In 2024/25, 35.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.06 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly better than those nationally starting from the same point. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.6 out of 10 among them, against 3.7 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 545 pupils against a stated capacity of 625. 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 current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Whitstone
Overview
Whitstone is described as a ‘happy community school’ where pupils feel safe and respected. The inspection found that the school provides a ‘well-planned curriculum’ with high expectations for behaviour, resulting in calm and orderly lessons. Overall effectiveness was judged as Good, reflecting strong leadership and a positive culture.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a ‘well-planned curriculum’ with a clear ‘five-year journey for learning’ and vocational pathways.
- There is a ‘respectful culture’ where bullying is rare and pupils feel confident reporting concerns.
- ‘Safeguarding systems are robust’ with effective reporting and specialist support for vulnerable pupils.
- Leaders have invested in a ‘wider reading curriculum’ and a well-resourced library to develop fluency.
- Governance is strong, with leaders working effectively with the community and post-16 providers.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must evaluate the wider reading curriculum to ensure pupils in early reading stages receive ‘timely and appropriate phonics intervention’.
- Planning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) requires greater precision so resources are ‘well directed’ and support is effective.
- The PSHE curriculum needs better implementation, as some teachers lack ‘sufficient subject knowledge’ and training.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’ and that systems are robust, with staff receiving necessary training and leaders intervening swiftly when pupils are at risk.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.6 |
| 2024/25 | 40.5 |
| 2025/26 | 39.7 |
| 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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