School Chooser

Churchill Academy & Sixth Form

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy1,488 pupilsSixth formWinscombeNorth Somerset
School Chooser Score
60
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 50 to 69
Out of 100. Better than 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, May 2025
Strong pass in English and maths53%England 46%
Attendance91.7%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families15%Far fewer than most schools
Places210 spare1,488 pupils, 1,698 places
Pupils per teacher17.9School workforce census

Churchill Academy & Sixth Form is a converter academy in Winscombe for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,488 pupils and room for 1,698. About 15 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 60 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2025, no overall grade.

Churchill Green, Churchill, Winscombe, BS25 5QN01934 852771churchill-academy.orgMr Chris Hildrew headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 20 May 2025, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

264 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score50.3
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths53%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths75%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.04In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 50.450.420182019: 48.848.820192022: 50.150.120222023: 49.349.320232024: 48.748.720242025: 50.350.32025
Since 2018: -0.1Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018North SomersetEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11264260258259222227
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 850.348.749.350.148.850.447.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.04+0.06-0.12-0.18+0.01
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths53%53%55%51%55%55%45%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths75%74%76%75%74%73%67%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.254.154.214.404.594.354.034.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry19%23%26%35%80%32%26%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged35.239.434.241.434.036.0
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged52.349.651.451.352.352.9
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers29.130.232.315.926.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers63.864.267.561.560.9

Subjects

Results came out for 20 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Art and Design83%grades 9 to 5, England 58% · 359th of 2,818 schools
French77%grades 9 to 5, England 60% · 511th of 1,974 schools
Biology97%grades 9 to 5, England 82% · 598th of 2,570 schools
Design & Technology63%grades 9 to 5, England 50% · 405th of 1,478 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics263 entries · 1st of 11 in North Somerset
62%England 53%
English Language259 entries · 6th of 11 in North Somerset
56%England 54%
English Literature256 entries · 3rd of 11 in North Somerset
64%England 58%
Combined Science193 entries · 3rd of 11 in North Somerset
46%England 36%
History160 entries · 6th of 11 in North Somerset
51%England 52%
Geography140 entries · 6th of 11 in North Somerset
54%England 51%
Art and Design65 entries · 1st of 11 in North Somerset
83%England 58%
Biology61 entries · 2nd of 10 in North Somerset
97%England 82%
Religious Studies61 entries · 3rd of 5 in North Somerset
67%England 60%
Physics60 entries · 5th of 10 in North Somerset
92%England 82%
Chemistry60 entries · 3rd of 10 in North Somerset
92%England 81%
Food Preparation & Nutrition58 entries · 2nd of 6 in North Somerset
64%England 52%
Computer Science55 entries · 4th of 9 in North Somerset
60%England 56%
Business53 entries · 3rd of 8 in North Somerset
62%England 51%
Physical Education50 entries · 5th of 5 in North Somerset
58%England 56%
Design & Technology41 entries · 2nd of 7 in North Somerset
63%England 50%
French34 entries · 3rd of 6 in North Somerset
77%England 60%
Spanish30 entries · 4th of 9 in North Somerset
63%England 54%
Economics24 entries · 1st of 1 in North Somerset
63%England 70%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics26328%62%82%53%794 of 3,211
English Language25914%56%77%54%1,285 of 3,210
English Literature25621%64%78%58%992 of 3,202
Combined Science1937%46%65%36%754 of 3,084
History16021%51%61%52%1,556 of 3,126
Geography14023%54%74%51%1,164 of 3,116
Art and Design6532%83%89%58%359 of 2,818
Biology6156%97%98%82%598 of 2,570
Religious Studies6131%67%79%60%721 of 1,825
Physics6062%92%100%82%997 of 2,546
Chemistry6060%92%100%81%1,004 of 2,537
Food Preparation & Nutrition5826%64%78%52%326 of 1,098
Computer Science5511%60%75%56%772 of 1,861
Business5326%62%81%51%461 of 1,806
Physical Education5018%58%76%56%740 of 1,559
Design & Technology4142%63%81%50%405 of 1,478
French3429%77%88%60%511 of 1,974
Spanish3033%63%77%54%685 of 1,941
Economics2433%63%83%70%90 of 142
Music956%89%89%61%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

149 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+32.8 points per entry
A level progress+0.03Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better12%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished94%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students149129179169272259
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry32.7831.7033.6135.0533.4134.96
Average A level gradeC+C+C+B-C+C+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS34.3931.9233.5435.3232.7134.13
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects12%13%17%18%12%15%
A level progressA level value added+0.03-0.08+0.17+0.21
Applied general courses: points per entry22.8621.5926.1624.52
T levels: points per entry37.5042.2730.00
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed94%91%97%92%88%96%

A level subjects

22 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Economics83%A* to B, England 57% · 12 entries
Psychology64%A* to B, England 46% · 33 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics45Psychology33Geography30Biology27Business Studies22Chemistry20Physics20Media / Film / TV Studies16Sociology15English Literature15History13Economics12Design and Technology (Product Design)10Government and Politics10Physical Education / Sports Studies10Mathematics (Further)9Law9English Language8Fine Art8Photography8Music Technology6Religious Studies6
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics45 entries · 33% A* or A · 93% passed
62%England 60%
Psychology33 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
64%England 46%
Geography30 entries · 13% A* or A · 97% passed
30%England 51%
Biology27 entries · 19% A* or A · 85% passed
37%England 49%
Business Studies22 entries · 23% A* or A · 96% passed
46%England 47%
Chemistry20 entries · 30% A* or A · 90% passed
45%England 53%
Physics20 entries · 45% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 51%
Media / Film / TV Studies16 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
38%England 46%
Sociology15 entries · 13% A* or A · 93% passed
27%England 49%
English Literature15 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
53%England 52%
History13 entries · 8% A* or A · 92% passed
31%England 55%
Economics12 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 57%
Design and Technology (Product Design)10 entries · 10% A* or A · 90% passed
20%England 38%
Government and Politics10 entries · 30% A* or A · 80% passed
40%England 55%
Physical Education / Sports Studies10 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
10%England 41%
Mathematics (Further)9 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 76%
Law9 entries · 33% A* or A · 89% passed
44%England 40%
English Language8 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
75%England 44%
Fine Art8 entries · 38% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 65%
Photography8 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
38%England 58%
Music Technology6 entries · 17% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 37%
Religious Studies6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 50%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
35.252.3
Gap 17.1England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
29%57%
Gap 28 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
48.752.0
Gap 3.3England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

A few spare places1,536 pupils for 1,731 places, 2024/25
89% full

About 195 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 8% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 5.2 miles away in 2022. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2022. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 5.2 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2022 Secondary2704175.2 milesLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,488Census January 2026
Places1,69888% full
Pupils from low-income families13%15% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English4%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support5%75 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%28 pupils with a plan
Average class size20.769 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils15%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)15%£204,600 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls721 / 767
White British pupils88%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (37), emotional and mental health (29), Autistic spectrum disorder (15), Moderate learning difficulty (8), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (6), language and communications needs (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,4881,5471,5891,6401,6631,615
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals13%12%10%8%8%8%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language4%4%4%4%3%3%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support5%6%7%5%4%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%1%0%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance91.7%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school23.8%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils13.92024/25, 2 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence8.3%8.7%8.2%9.2%5.1%5.7%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.7%6.1%6.5%7.4%3.9%4.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.6%2.6%1.7%1.8%1.1%1.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence23.8%26.5%24.0%27.6%13.3%14.3%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate13.912.09.612.49.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions20132

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 258 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training97%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 87%, compared with 98% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training97%96%96%99%
Education90%90%93%95%
Apprenticeship3%3%1%2%
Work3%3%2%2%
Not in education, work or training1%2%3%1%

After sixth form

Where the 175 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training87%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 69%, compared with 89% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training68%England 72%
Top-third universities27%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course0%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 47% went on to degree-level study or training.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training87%89%91%
Education45%56%56%
Apprenticeship5%1%2%0%
Work38%33%33%
Not in education, work or training9%6%6%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers83.0full-time equivalent, 93 people
Pupils per teacher17.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants14.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£49,269
Teachers who left in the year18%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher4.62024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,754England £7,965. Total £10m
Income per pupil£7,268England £8,423. Total £11m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,290England £4,444
Money in reserve10%A healthy amount put by: £1.1m, £731 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£794kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,754spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m2112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate48 per 1,000 people47% lower than the England average
Typical house price£315,000North Somerset
Nearest bus stop140 mChurchill Academy, 6 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
The Kings of Wessex AcademyAcademy4.5 miles1,043Not inspected73Compare
Fairlands Middle SchoolAcademy4.6 miles405No overall grade 202449Compare
Priory Community SchoolAcademy4.7 miles1,486Good 202441Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Churchill Academy & Sixth Form with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats50%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 60 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 6 · middle 62 · highest 92100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 60 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 60% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 50 to 69. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%in line
+0.06
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 264 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 1.3 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.02
DfE progress measure; 264 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.03
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.01
2024/25; 1,328 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
-0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 264 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.05
258 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Churchill Academy & Sixth Form a good school?

It is about average. Churchill Academy & Sixth Form scores 60 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 50 to 69, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Churchill Academy & Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Churchill Academy & Sixth Form not judged at its last full inspection on 20 May 2025.

How good are Churchill Academy & Sixth Form's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 53% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 50.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Churchill Academy & Sixth Form have?

1,488 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,698 places, so it is 88% full.

Is Churchill Academy & Sixth Form oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2022 the last place went to a child living 5.2 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form?

Pupils were in school 91.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 24% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Churchill Academy & Sixth Form?

The average class had 20.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 15% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Churchill Academy & Sixth Form have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C+. 22 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Churchill Green, Churchill, Winscombe, BS25 5QN
Telephone
01934 852771
Website
www.churchill-academy.org
Headteacher
Mr Chris Hildrew
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
Lighthouse Schools Partnership (33 schools)
Local authority
North Somerset
Ward
Blagdon & Churchill
Constituency
Wells and Mendip Hills
Setting
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 August 2011 (academy converter)
URN
137000 · LAESTAB 8024139 · UKPRN 10034656
Formerly
Churchill Community Foundation School and Sixth Form Centre

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from