The Kings of Wessex Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 13-18 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Station Road Cheddar Somerset BS27 3AQ |
| Phone | 01934742608 |
| Reference Number | 136783 |
The Kings of Wessex Academy is performing well, maintaining the standards identified in its previous inspection. The school has a proud community where pupils and staff thrive, and there is a notable focus on both academic achievement and the development of wider skills. The headteacher, David Wiltshire, alongside the support of the Wessex Learning Trust, drives a culture of high expectations, especially for disadvantaged pupils. Positive student behavior and respectful relationships contribute to a safe and conducive learning environment. While the school demonstrates many strong features, there are areas of the curriculum that lack ambition, potentially limiting some students' learning opportunities. Although significant steps have been made to challenge sixth-form students, there remains a need for improvement in how assessments are utilized to better inform teaching practices across the board. Overall, the school exhibits a commitment to developing responsible and active citizens, supported by a robust personal development curriculum and effective safeguarding arrangements.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1050 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 51.71%
Girls: 48.29% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 11.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 3.7% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 21.3 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 151 | 147 | 298 |
| 10 | 133 | 115 | 248 |
| 11 | 136 | 132 | 268 |
| 12 | 65 | 64 | 129 |
| 13 | 58 | 49 | 107 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 91% |
| White, Other | 3.4% |
| White & Asian | 1.1% |
| Indian | 0.7% |
| Unclassified | 0.7% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.7% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.6% |
| Irish | 0.4% |
| Asian, Other | 0.4% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.2% |
| African | 0.2% |
| Chinese | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 05 Nov 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 05 Nov 2024 | School inspection |
| 13 Nov 2018 | Short inspection |
| 10 Oct 2017 | Monitoring visit |
| 05 Mar 2015 | Full inspection: |
| 14 Feb 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 24 Jan 2012 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 03 Feb 2010 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as The Kings of Wessex School | |
| 03 Feb 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Nov 2008 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 11 Nov 2008 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 25 Apr 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Apr 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Dec 2002 | Full inspection |
| 02 Dec 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils show pride in their school community.
- High expectations for pupil behavior with a fair and consistently applied reward system.
- Ambitious curriculum preparing students for future studies.
- Strong personal development curriculum fostering responsible citizenship.
- Effective identification of students' special educational needs and adaptations made to support them.
- Encouragement of reading through diverse and engaging literature choices.
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment methods do not always accurately identify pupils' understanding.
- Some curriculum areas lack sufficient challenge for all pupils.
Points
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 35.83 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 35.67 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | B- | B- | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | B- | B- | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 13.4% |
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