Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #19 in Somerset public Top 31% UK

Holyrood Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Dave Maccormick

corporate_fareBLACKDOWN EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

location_onChard, TA20 1JL

language Visit Website phone 1460260100

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

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Students

1,319

trending_up

Attainment 8

42.4

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GCSE Rank

#20 in Somerset

#2,189 of 3,216 nationally

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Holyrood Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Chard, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Holyrood Academy is an academy converter in Chard, Somerset, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BLACKDOWN EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. The school has approximately 1,321 pupils on roll, of whom 26% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.4, placing the school #20 in Somerset and #2,189 of 3,216 nationally. 29.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 36.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 15.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.79 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 9.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

42.4

Grade 5+ E&M

29.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.9%

Entering EBacc21.60%

EBacc APS3.65

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22.30%

EBacc APS3.85

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.66

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS3.8

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS3.93

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.1

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS4.06

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships11%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.79

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.1%

Achieving A*–A15.3%

Achieving A*–B36.6%

VA Banding Well below average

Retention rate94.3%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.12

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate85.40%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate96.60%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate97.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 February 2023

Inspection Report

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09 May 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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10 May 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-02-07

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-05-09

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2010-03-03

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

9.5%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.2%(69 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,321 pupils. During this period, there were 126 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 9.5%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,321	126	9.5%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,331	135	10.1%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,305	137	10.5%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,323	124	9.4%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,338	150	11.2%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,317	177	13.4%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,319	125	9.5%	6.4%	3
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,333	124	9.3%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,309	122	9.3%	4.7%	3
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,322	95	7.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,327	96	7.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,270	65	5.1%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,275	17	1.3%	1.0%	2
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,284	102	7.9%	3.9%	3
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,243	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,243	106	8.5%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,256	110	8.8%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,265	96	7.6%	3.1%	3
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,276	189	14.8%	3.8%	4
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,282	302	23.6%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,268	148	11.7%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,294	78	6.0%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,289	96	7.4%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,258	78	6.2%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,267	70	5.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,276	73	5.7%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 58 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 53 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 33 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Visual Impairment 5 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

66.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree39%

disagree23%

strongly disagree12%

don't know6%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree23%

agree36%

disagree26%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree26%

agree20%

disagree20%

strongly disagree18%

don't know1%

not applicable14%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes26%

no74%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree11%

agree18%

disagree30%

strongly disagree34%

dont know7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree46%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree47%

disagree16%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree27%

agree48%

disagree13%

strongly disagree11%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree30%

agree61%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree44%

disagree2%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree27%

agree43%

disagree12%

strongly disagree12%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes64%

no36%

Top Secondary Schools in Somerset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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Good

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Inadequate

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The Blue School

Good

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Haygrove School

Good

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The Kings of Wessex Academy

Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Somerset

The Castle School

Sexey's School

Huish Episcopi Academy

The Blue School

Haygrove School

The Kings of Wessex Academy