Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our vision is simple, we are a staff body committed to our students with an emphasis on ambition, respect and our academy's community. Stanchester Academy is well known for its welcoming atmosphere built on the strong relationships between staff and students. Our academic approach is for every student to enjoy learning."

In 2026, pupils at Stanchester Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.3 in Somerset and 47 across England.

46% 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 -0.17: 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 35.2, against 48.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 138 families put Stanchester Academy as their first choice and 206 named it as one of their preferences, for 146 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Stanchester Academy are Preston School Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.3); Westfield Academy (3.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.6); Buckler's Mead School (4.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.3); and Wadham School (5.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.7).

Stanchester Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Stanchester Academy is one of 8 schools run by Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust, an academy trust.

134 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stanchester Academy (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

Of the 152 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 68% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

4.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 174 pupils (21%) received SEN support and 21 (2.5%) 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 Stanchester Academy.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stanchester Community School (e-bound), 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 12 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).

In 2024/25, Stanchester Academy issued 181 suspensions, 22.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Stanchester Academy are All Saints Church School (0.8 miles); Castle Primary School (0.9 miles); St Margaret's School, Tintinhull (1.4 miles); and Norton Sub Hamdon Church School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.