Whitstone, Shepton Mallet

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Whitstone on 6 areas: 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils typically attend school regularly."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff identify and assess the needs of disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and pupils known to social care, through coordinated pastoral, academic and safeguarding systems."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school provides a coherent and well-structured programme that promotes pupils' wider development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' attainment is below national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "On the whole, pupils follow a broad and ambitious curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have a broad awareness of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that assessment strategies are consistently well embedded and teachers use assessment information to tailor teaching appropriately"; "Leaders should take appropriate actions to ensure that gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge are identified quickly and addressed in a systematic and effective way"; "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, should evaluate precisely the impact of their improvement work, including the implementation of the curriculum, to ensure pupils achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that the personal development programme is tailored to pupils' aspirations so the impact is clear on the outcomes and experiences of all pupils".

In 2026, pupils at Whitstone averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.3 in Somerset and 47 across England.

29% 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 40.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.06: pupils made about 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 33.8, against 42.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.3 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 95 families put Whitstone as their first choice and 125 named it as one of their preferences, for 95 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Whitstone is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 96 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 76% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

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

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Frithfield Lane (opposite), 150 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Whitstone issued 678 suspensions, 117.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Whitstone are St Paul's Church of England VC Junior School (0.2 miles), Shepton Mallet Community Infants' School & Nursery (0.3 miles), Bowlish Infant School (0.8 miles) and St Aldhelms Church School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.