Preston School Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of MIDSOMER NORTON SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Monks Dale, Yeovil, BA21 3JD

01935 471131 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 10 January 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 41% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,003Room for 975 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 952 in 2019, 909 in 2021, 923 in 2022, 959 in 2023, 983 in 2024, 983 in 2025, 1,003 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9185 for 205 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 39% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 January 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

154 pupils in this year group.

40% — about the same as the Somerset average, and 5 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSomersetEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 40% 40% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 45.9 43.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.2 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 48%This school 2023/24: 57%This school 2024/25: 40% This school England 45% 2022/23 48% 2023/24 57% 2024/25 40%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

178 pupils in this year group.

96% — 4 points above the Somerset average, and 4 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 14%66%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSomersetEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 96% 92% 92%
School sixth form 14% 17% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 17% 13%
Further education college 66% 47% 37%
Apprenticeship 8% 6% 3%
Work 6% 5% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%96%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Somerset. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered205
Families who put it first185
Of those, offered a place185 (100%)
Families who listed it at all382

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Somerset

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 20 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolSomersetEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.6% 22.8%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
8.9% 15.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.5% 9.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Lower than 61% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.7% 9.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Lower than 69% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.4% 24.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Lower than 66% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.4 38.5 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Lower than 73% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.1% 9.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.20% 0.30% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 69% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.7 17.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.0 11.4 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Yeovil.
Higher than 43% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.1% 14.2%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Preston School Academy's Ofsted rating?

Preston School Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 January 2023.

How did Preston School Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 5 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Preston School Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 185 families put Preston School Academy as their first choice for 205 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 185 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.