Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School has received a 'Good' rating in overall effectiveness, marking a positive evaluation in its first inspection under the current framework. The school showcases a commitment to fostering a respectful and safe atmosphere, where students are encouraged to develop both academically and personally. Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum and various extracurricular activities that enhance their teamwork and leadership skills. The longstanding trust context and the school's rich history of previous inspections play a significant role in establishing community expectations.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate high levels of happiness and safety.
• There are strong, respectful relationships between staff and pupils.
• Extracurricular opportunities are extensive and well-received.
• Teachers effectively assess pupils' understanding and rectify misconceptions.
• The personal, social and health education curriculum is well-planned.
• Pupils engage in community activities and learn about civic responsibility.

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, key knowledge for pupils to learn and remember has not been clearly identified.
• Some pupils require better support to improve their reading fluency and confidence.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 16.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.5% of pupils at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School had 19.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 8.7% of pupils at Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School received £6,985 and spent £6,796 for each of its 620 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £819,000 (£1,320 per pupil).

Across all 22 schools of Wessex Learning Trust, income was £7,524 and spending £7,371 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Somerset · Somerset local authority: places and applications

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School is part of Wessex Learning Trust, which runs 23 schools. The nearest others:

• Wedmore First School Academy Wedmore
• Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy Highbridge
• Weare Academy First School Axbridge
• Axbridge Church of England First School Academy Axbridge
• The Kings of Wessex Academy Cheddar
• Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First School Draycott
• Cheddar First School Cheddar
• Fairlands Middle School Cheddar
• East Brent Church of England First School Highbridge
• Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School Highbridge

What is Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School last inspected by Ofsted?

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School have?

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School has 595 pupils on roll.

What age range does Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School cover?

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School for pupils aged 9 to 13.

What are Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School?

Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School is at Blackford, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4ND.