Located in Minehead, West Somerset College is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 13 to 19. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
West Somerset College currently has around 760 pupils on roll, which is about 50% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50.1% boys and 49.9% girls. Around 24.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 14.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 44.9%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (91.6%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Requires Improvement. This means the school has areas that require improvement. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 95% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (83%) , including 29% who stay in school sixth forms and 37% progressing to further education , while 5% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Bircham Road, Minehead, TA24 6AY |
| Website: | http://www.westsomersetcollege.org/ |
| Telephone: | 01643706061 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Somerset |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Zoe Stucki |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136791 |
Ofsted inspection date: 16/05/2023
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 13 - 19 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1509 |
| Number of Pupils: | 760 |
| Number of Boys: | 381 |
| Number of Girls: | 379 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 14.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 44.9% | 8.2% |
| White British | 91.60% | 696 |
| Other White | 3.00% | 23 |
| White and Asian | 1.30% | 10 |
| Other Mixed | 0.80% | 6 |
| Unclassified | 0.70% | 5 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.50% | 4 |
| White and Black African | 0.50% | 4 |
| Indian | 0.50% | 4 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.40% | 3 |
| African | 0.40% | 3 |
| Other Asian | 0.10% | 1 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.10% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minehead First School Townsend Road , TA24 5RG | 3out of 4 | 1,357 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Minehead First School Townsend Road , TA24 5RG | - not rated | 1,357 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Michael's Church of England First School Watery Lane , TA24 5NY | 3out of 4 | 1,896 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Michael's Church of England First School Watery Lane , TA24 5NY | - not rated | 1,896 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Dunster First School 13 St George's Street , Dunster TA24 6RX | 3out of 4 | 1,950 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The West Somerset Community College Bircham Road , Alcombe TA24 6AY | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| West Somerset College Bircham Road , Alcombe TA24 6AY | 2out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minehead Middle School Ponsford Road , TA24 5RH | - not rated | 852 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Minehead Middle School Ponsford Road , TA24 5RH | - not rated | 852 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Foxes Selbourne Place , TA24 5TY | - not rated | 1,485 yd | Special post 16 institution | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Foxes Fields Selbourne Place , TA24 5TY | - not rated | 1,535 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Periton Mead School Periton Road , TA24 8DS | - not rated | 2,274 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.