Ansford Academy, Castle Cary
Ansford Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Castle Cary, part of Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Before that it was rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in October 2023. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 13th-highest of the 28 schools in Somerset with published results, and 1,846th of 3,298 across England. It was 67% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 6 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ansford Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades Ansford Academy on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have successfully prioritised the most urgent areas of the school to improve."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils flourish at Ansford Academy."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally have appropriate knowledge and skills across the curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school uses the strong relationships it builds with parents and pupils to understand the barriers to attendance that some pupils face."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils."
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Every pupil is welcome and supported at this school."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "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".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Ansford Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Ansford Academy where you will find a warm and welcoming community with a commitment to sustained development. We are a mixed 11-16 school which is fully comprehensive in nature with approximately 500 students on roll."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Ansford Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.3 in Somerset and 47 across England.
42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Somerset and 47% in England.
That is up from 43.7 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.42: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 30.3, against 46.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.5 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.
Getting a place at Ansford Academy
For September 2026 entry, 85 families put Ansford Academy as their first choice and 114 named it as one of their preferences, for 87 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Ansford Academy are Sexey's School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1); and King Arthur's School (4.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.8).
Ansford Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
The trust
Ansford Academy is one of 44 schools run by Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.4 in 2024/25.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ansford Academy (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 114 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 73% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.
Who goes there
3.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Castle Cary Rail Station, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Churchfields (se-bound), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ansford Academy issued 123 suspensions, 23.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Ansford Academy
Pupils enjoy attending this school. The environment is calm and joyful. Each day starts with a welcome from key staff, which helps pupils to feel included. This also aims to remove barriers that pupils might be experiencing, by providing a friendly face who knows them well at the outset of the day. Pupils relish the additional responsibilities that they take on. For instance, Year 7 pupils are proud of their work in looking after the much-loved school goats. Pupils of all ages know the tangible impact that the work of the very active school council has on the everyday life of the school. This helps them understand the power of sharing their views. Older pupils embody the school's values, which helps others to understand how to 'live' them. Pupils have supportive and positive relationships with staff and with their peers. Bullying is rare and is dealt with quickly and effectively if it does happen. This contributes to pupils feeling safe in school. Pupils are able to learn in classrooms where disruption is very rare. This means they build the knowledge and skills that they need in order to achieve well. This is shown in increasingly positive national outcomes and in the quality of pupils' written work and verbal responses. Pupils enjoy the many opportunities they have to develop beyond lessons. Many take part in the varied sporting and creative clubs and events that the school offers. The recent production of 'Oliver' is a source of pride for staff and pupils alike, as are the many sporting successes. Leaders make sure that barriers that might prevent pupils from taking part in the wider personal development opportunities on offer are removed. Most pupils attend regularly, and absence from school has decreased. However, a few pupils do not attend well enough.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- 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.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 24 February 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ansford Academy creates a welcoming, calm environment where pupils thrive academically and personally. The school excels at supporting all pupils, including those with additional needs and those facing challenges, through strong relationships and tailored help. Pupils develop confidence and leadership skills through a wide range of clubs, sports, arts activities and meaningful responsibilities like the school council.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership with clear vision and high aspirations for all pupils
- Comprehensive personal development programme helping pupils flourish, including excellent careers education
- Pupils behave well with rare disruption to learning - strong sense of community and respect
- Extensive pastoral support and effective inclusion of pupils with additional needs
- Wide range of extracurricular opportunities in sports, arts and enrichment activities
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching activities sometimes do not enable pupils to learn as much as they could - need more consistent, highly effective teaching across all subjects
- Attendance remains a concern for a minority of pupils who miss out on learning and school life
- Continue to improve overall attendance rates so more pupils benefit from school opportunities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School productions (Oliver), sporting clubs and events, creative clubs, school council, Year 7 school goats care programme
Ansford Academy is a secondary school in Castle Cary, Somerset that has made significant improvements across leadership, personal development, and pupil wellbeing. The school creates a calm and joyful environment where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe.
About
Ansford Academy, previously known as Ansford School, is a school located in Ansford, which lies on the northern edge of Castle Cary in Somerset, England. The current head teacher is Karl Musson.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
19.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
72 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.42 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 40.4 to 44.9 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 33% to 42% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 44.9 | 42.2% |
| Disadvantaged(12) | - | 30.3 | 0% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(90) | - | 46.8 | 47.8% |
| Boys(61) | - | 43.2 | 39.3% |
| Girls(41) | - | 47.3 | 46.3% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(97) | - | 45.4 | 44.3% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 2 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 114 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.39%
Exclusion rate
123
Suspensions
23.84%
Suspension rate
51 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 516 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Ansford Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ansford Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ansford Academy is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ansford Academy
Will you get a place at Ansford Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ansford Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ansford Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ansford Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ansford Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Somerset got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
67%
Available places
511 pupils
760 places
249 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Castle Cary
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Castle Cary
Across Somerset council
Places available
4,902
Applications
4,659
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
85
SEN Support
23
EHC Plans
23.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
469
Total Pupils
239
Boys
230
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
13.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,204
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,817
Per pupil
£3766k
Total funding
£105k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.8%
Overall absence
26.5%
Persistent absence
533
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Ansford Academy
Questions parents ask about Ansford Academy
What are GCSE results like at Ansford Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Ansford Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.9. 42% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Ansford Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ansford Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Ansford Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Ansford Academy is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ansford Academy?
Ansford Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 67% of its 760 places.
How big are the classes at Ansford Academy?
Classes at Ansford Academy average 20 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ansford Academy?
Ansford Academy has around 469 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ansford Academy?
8.8% of sessions were missed at Ansford Academy in 2024/25. 26.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ansford Academy?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Ansford Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Ansford Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ansford Academy?
Ansford Academy is at Maggs Lane, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7JJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)