Holyrood Academy, Chard

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Holyrood Academy, a school that has proudly served Chard and the surrounding communities for more than 110 years. Since 1910, generations of families have entrusted us with the education of their children, and we continue to take that responsibility very seriously. Holyrood exists to serve its community."

The school week is 33 hours a week.

In 2026, pupils at Holyrood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.3 in Somerset and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in Somerset and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 42.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.16: 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 39, against 44.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 5.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 205 families put Holyrood Academy as their first choice and 242 named it as one of their preferences, for 207 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Holyrood Academy is one of 14 schools run by Blackdown Education Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.5 in 2024/25.

Of the 229 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college, 10% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 56 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 36% went on to university or other higher education, 14% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 11% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

11% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 178 pupils (13.9%) received SEN support and 37 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Holyrood Academy.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holyrood School (n-bound), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 104 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Holyrood Academy issued 382 suspensions, 28.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Holyrood Academy are The Redstart Primary School (0.3 miles), Manor Court Community Primary School (0.4 miles) and Avishayes Community Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.