Robert Blake School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Robert Blake Academy.
Robert Blake School, Bridgwater
Robert Blake School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Bridgwater. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 2nd-highest of the 5 schools in Bridgwater with published results, and 2,062nd of 3,298 across England. It was 87% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Robert Blake School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Robert Blake School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.3 in Somerset and 47 across England.
45% 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 42.9.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.53: pupils made well 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 36.5, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.1 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.
Getting a place at Robert Blake School
For September 2026 entry, 177 families put Robert Blake School as their first choice and 247 named it as one of their preferences, for 195 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 Robert Blake School are Robert Blake Academy (under 0.1 miles); Haygrove School (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.5); Bridgwater College Academy (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 33.8); and Chilton Trinity School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 42.3).
Robert Blake School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Robert Blake AcademyHaygrove SchoolBridgwater College AcademyChilton Trinity School
Where pupils go next
Of the 191 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 59% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.
Who goes there
35.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 159 pupils (15.7%) received SEN support and 31 (3.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bridgwater Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rhode Lane (ne-bound), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Robert Blake School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 551 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Robert Blake School issued 542 suspensions, 52 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its October 2023 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
About
Robert Blake School, formerly Robert Blake Science College, is a mixed secondary school in Bridgwater, Somerset, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
35.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from -0.79 to -0.53 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 37.7 to 43.6 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 25% to 45% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 43.6 | 44.7% |
| Disadvantaged(56) | - | 36.5 | 30.4% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(132) | - | 46.6 | 50.8% |
| Boys(79) | - | 42.1 | 44.3% |
| Girls(109) | - | 44.7 | 45% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(42) | - | 48.0 | 50% |
| Non mobile(182) | - | 43.5 | 44% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 3 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 191 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
3
Permanent exclusions
0.29%
Exclusion rate
542
Suspensions
52.02%
Suspension rate
122 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,042 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Robert Blake School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Robert Blake School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Robert Blake School is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Robert Blake School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
1,045 pupils
1,200 places
155 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bridgwater
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bridgwater
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(12)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
159
SEN Support
31
EHC Plans
18.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,014
Total Pupils
492
Boys
522
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
64
Teachers
15.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,530
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,693
Per pupil
£8691k
Total funding
£382k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.1%
Overall absence
30.0%
Persistent absence
1,095
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Robert Blake School
What are GCSE results like at Robert Blake School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Robert Blake School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.6. 45% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Robert Blake School's Ofsted rating?
Robert Blake School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Robert Blake School?
No fixed boundary. When Robert Blake School is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Robert Blake School?
Robert Blake School was not full in 2025: it ran at 87% of its 1200 places.
How big are the classes at Robert Blake School?
Classes at Robert Blake School average 22.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Robert Blake School?
Robert Blake School has around 1014 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Robert Blake School?
10.1% of sessions were missed at Robert Blake School in 2024/25. 30% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Robert Blake School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Robert Blake School 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.
Where is Robert Blake School?
Robert Blake School is at Hamp Avenue, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 6AW.