Backwell School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,595 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 52.7
Academy converter
Nailsea School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,197of 1,300 places
- Free school meals
- 14.5%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 187
- Ofsted
- Good, 12 March 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Nailsea School (URN 109310, until 1 August 2012).
What the data says
Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 at Nailsea School in 2023, 51% stayed on in Nailsea School’s own sixth form (North Somerset average 35%), 36% went to a further education college and 4% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 75 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 48% went to university (North Somerset 25%, England 37%), and 10% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 52.6 against 46.1 across England and 46.8 in North Somerset, with 56% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average B-, above the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Geography, Psychology and Mathematics.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in North Somerset and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Nailsea School | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 179 | 2,376 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 93% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 89% | 86% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 51% | 35% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 2% | 2% | 13% |
| — further education college | 36% | 48% | 37% |
| — other education | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Employment | 0% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 4% | 5% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Nailsea School | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 75 | 2,308 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 85% | 76% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 48% | 25% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 10% | 15% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 10% | 7% |
| Employment | 31% | 35% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 8% | 18% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Nailsea School | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 52.6 | 46.8 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 56% | 46% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 76% | 67% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 30% | 29% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.60 | 4.03 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 12% | 18% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 34.0 | 30.8 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 55.2 | 50.4 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 4% | 8% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 184 | 98% | 88% | 29% | 22% | 79% |
| English Language | 179 | 96% | 89% | 26% | 20% | 82% |
| English Literature | 176 | 94% | 86% | 23% | 21% | 90% |
| Combined Science | 130 | 70% | 65% | 10% | 9% | 69% |
| Geography | 119 | 64% | 41% | 37% | 25% | 80% |
| History | 89 | 48% | 41% | 48% | 26% | 87% |
| Spanish | 56 | 30% | 19% | 21% | 27% | 75% |
| Chemistry | 51 | 27% | 23% | 61% | 47% | 98% |
| Biology | 51 | 27% | 23% | 71% | 45% | 98% |
| Physics | 51 | 27% | 23% | 67% | 46% | 100% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 36 | 19% | 8% | 22% | 21% | 72% |
| Media Studies | 31 | 17% | 4% | 32% | 20% | 97% |
| Religious Studies | 28 | 15% | 31% | 50% | 32% | 82% |
| Fine Art | 25 | 13% | 9% | 20% | 28% | 76% |
| Applied Engineering | 24 | 13% | 0% | 8% | 18% | 58% |
| Physical Education | 24 | 13% | 11% | 25% | 24% | 88% |
| Photography | 24 | 13% | 6% | 46% | 19% | 92% |
| Film Studies | 19 | 10% | 1% | 16% | 20% | 53% |
| Design and Technology | 18 | 10% | 11% | 11% | 23% | 67% |
| 3D Design | 16 | 9% | 2% | 31% | 16% | 94% |
| Music | 12 | 6% | 5% | 25% | 33% | 100% |
| French | 11 | 6% | 18% | 64% | 29% | 82% |
| Art and Design | 1 | 1% | 7% | — | 24% | — |
| Turkish | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 71% | — |
| Modern Greek | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 33% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 1% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Management | 54 | 68% | — |
| Health Studies | 30 | 38% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | 16 | 20% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 14 | 18% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Nailsea School | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 195 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 80 | 910 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | B- | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 37.36 | 32.70 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 22% | 14% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 30 | 38% | 10% |
| Psychology | 20 | 25% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 18 | 23% | 31% |
| History | 16 | 20% | 13% |
| Chemistry | 15 | 19% | 17% |
| Biology | 14 | 18% | 20% |
| English Literature | 14 | 18% | 11% |
| Physics | 12 | 15% | 12% |
| Media Studies | 10 | 13% | 4% |
| Film Studies | 8 | 10% | 2% |
| D and T Textiles Technology | 7 | 9% | 0% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 9% | 4% |
| English Language | 6 | 8% | 4% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Art and Design | — | — | 1% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 25 | 31% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 17 | 21% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 13 | 16% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 8 | 10% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 9% | — |
| Religious Studies | GCE AS level (All) | 7 | 9% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Spanish | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Spanish | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in North Somerset
Broadoak Academy
Academy converter · 792 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.7
Churchill Academy & Sixth Form
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,488 pupils
90% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.3
Clevedon School
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89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.4
Gordano School
Academy converter · sixth form · 2,029 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.0
Hans Price Academy
Academy sponsor led · 1,046 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.6
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.