Frome Community College: A Comprehensive State School with Strong Sixth Form Performance

A century of education in Frome has brought the institution from its origins as Frome Grammar School to its current incarnation as a comprehensive secondary college serving students aged 13 to 18. In 2024, the school joined the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership, adding fresh impetus to its long-established mission. With approximately 1,280 students on roll and 75 members of staff, Frome College operates as the principal educational institution in the town, offering a blend of traditional academic rigour and contemporary breadth. The sixth form delivers strong A-level outcomes, with 56% of grades at A*-B level (FindMySchool ranking: 670th in England, placing it in the middle tier of sixth form performance nationally). A state school with no tuition fees, Frome College draws from its three-tier feeder system in Somerset and serves families throughout the region seeking secondary and post-16 education without cost barriers.

Walking through the campus, you encounter a school that has managed to retain continuity across nearly a century of educational change. The original grammar school buildings stand alongside modern facilities, creating a physical landscape that reflects institutional evolution without erasure of heritage. The teaching staff number 75 across all departments, supporting a pupil-to-staff ratio of approximately 15:1, enabling reasonable class sizes and individual attention.

Principal Emma Reynolds took the helm in 2017, bringing a fresh perspective to the college's strategic direction. Under her leadership, the school has strengthened its commitment to student aspirations and personal development. The culture emphasises hard work, discipline, and high expectations, particularly in the sixth form where structured learning creates a sense of serious academic intent. Low-level disruption is not tolerated, which means lessons proceed without interruption for the majority of students.

House system organisation creates five distinct pastoral communities within the college, each led by an experienced Head of House. This layered approach to student welfare means that even in a school of over 1,200 students, individuals experience personal oversight and care. The college describes itself as calm and civilised, with students reporting that they feel safe and have trusted adults to speak to when concerns arise.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes place Frome College in line with national performance. The average attainment 8 score stands at 40, compared to the England average of 44.2. Approximately 56% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in English and mathematics, in line with the England average of 61%. These figures reflect a school serving a mixed cohort with a genuine comprehensive intake; results are solid rather than exceptional, indicating that the college succeeds in supporting a diverse range of learners from different starting points.

The school enters pupils across the full spectrum of subjects and qualifications. A-level uptake is strong, with a higher percentage of students remaining in the sixth form compared to the national average, suggesting that the college retains many learners for post-16 study.

A-Level and Sixth Form Performance

The sixth form delivers notably stronger performance at A-level. A total of 56% of grades achieved A*-B standard, well above the England average of 47%. Breaking this down further: 14% of entries graded A*, 15% graded A, and 27% graded B. This progression from GCSE to A-level (where students voluntarily continue their studies) suggests that those who proceed to the sixth form are motivated and capable, and that the college provides strong support for advanced-level work.

The sixth form ranks 670th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool data), placing it within the middle 25% of sixth form colleges nationally (25th to 60th percentile). This represents solid, consistent performance. In 2024, 1 student secured a place at Cambridge, with no Oxford acceptances recorded, though overall Oxbridge representation is modest relative to total cohort size.

Curriculum breadth across both GCSE and A-level remains a notable strength. The college offers a wide range of subjects at both key stage four and five, including facilitating A-levels (English, mathematics, sciences, history, geography, languages) that support progression to leading universities. The teaching approach emphasises active engagement, with lessons described as engaging, fast-paced, and encouraging debate and questions.

Year 9 students benefit from a dual-track curriculum: a structured approach to core Key Stage Three learning combined with optional subjects drawn from a 'World Beyond Frome' block. This balance allows students to explore interests beyond traditional subjects while maintaining disciplinary foundations. As students progress through Year 10 and 11, learning is organised around GCSE requirements, with pastoral staff and subject specialists working together to guide choice and effort.

The sixth form (known as Frome Futures) occupies a separate, self-contained building, creating a distinct community for post-16 students. This physical separation reflects the college's recognition that sixth form students require different pastoral structures and social spaces. Teaching in the sixth form prioritises independence, with staff preparing students for university-style learning and lifelong skill development.

University progression from sixth form is significant. The college reports that the majority of sixth form leavers progress to university, with a smaller proportion entering further education, apprenticeships, or employment. Oxbridge representation, while not dramatic, places the college on the radar of both Oxford and Cambridge, with 1 Cambridge acceptance recorded in recent data.

Sixth form students have the opportunity to pursue a range of university pathways. The school's location in Somerset and its comprehensive character mean that students progress to universities across the country, including research-intensive institutions and teaching-focused universities. The college emphasises post-16 careers guidance from Year 11 onwards, with dedicated careers events, employer engagement, and apprenticeship pathways available for those not pursuing university entrance.

Extracurricular provision is extensive and deliberately crafted to extend learning beyond lessons. The college recognises that activities undertaken outside formal teaching are often those remembered longest by students, and staff invest significant energy in co-curricular opportunities. These are coordinated across five areas of student engagement.

Drama and Performance

The 240-seat Merlin Theatre, located on campus, serves as a vital hub for dramatic activity. Sixth form students participate in regular drama productions and musical showcases, showcasing both professional standards of stagecraft and accessible entry points for students of varying experience. The theatre hosts not only school events but also community performances and external theatre companies, creating a cultural anchor for the wider town. Term-time drama classes work with professional practitioners, building skills and imagination among students aged 7 through 17 (indicating that some younger students from feeder schools access the facility).

Music

Music provision includes ensemble opportunities and individual tuition. The school maintains a chapel choir and symphony orchestra, both of which undertake touring. Musical showcases occur regularly, offering performance experience to students across ability levels. Sixth form students particularly benefit from music technology options at A-level, connecting academic study to creative practice.

Duke of Edinburgh and Cadet Forces

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme operates in partnership with the college, allowing students to progress from Bronze through Gold levels. Combined Cadet Force (CCF) operates as an optional programme, drawing students interested in structured outdoor activity, citizenship training, and leadership development. These programmes foster resilience and self-reliance, with many students reporting them as formative experiences.

Sports and Physical Education

PE forms part of the compulsory curriculum. The college benefits from partnerships with external facilities: Frome Sport and Fitness Centre (located adjacent to campus) offers access to a 25-metre swimming pool, indoor bowls facilities, squash courts, and a modern gymnasium. This partnership ensures that students access high-quality facilities without the college bearing full capital costs. Sports fixtures occur across the county, with teams competing in rugby, netball, athletics, badminton, and other activities throughout the year.

Academic and Special Interest Clubs

Beyond the formal curriculum, the college facilitates a diverse range of subject-specific and interest-based clubs. These include public speaking and debating, business and enterprise activities, a radio club, and subject-specific societies. Students describe these opportunities as valuable in deepening learning and exploring passions beyond examination syllabi. The school also coordinates field work trips and residential experiences, with history students undertaking educational visits (including to nearby castles) as part of their study.

The college's specialist Media Arts status reflects a whole-school commitment to creative expression. Media studies is offered at GCSE and A-level, and film culture permeates school life through screenings, workshops, and collaborative projects. The Merlin Theatre frequently hosts film events, including Frome Film Club screenings and National Theatre Live transmissions.

Frome Community College operates as a non-selective comprehensive secondary, accepting students from its feeder middle schools (primarily Oakfield Academy and Selwood) and from families relocating to the area. Entry to Year 9 (the college's entry point) follows Somerset's coordinated admissions process; parents express preferences through the local authority, and places are allocated based on published admissions criteria.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. All students are entitled to free education from age 5 through 16, and the sixth form remains free for those continuing their studies. The college accommodates approximately 1,280 students across Years 9–13, with the sixth form accounting for a significant proportion of the student body. Specialist Special Educational Needs provision is available within the mainstream setting, with a dedicated SENCO (Mr Bill Owsley) overseeing coordinated support.

Entry to the sixth form (Year 12) typically requires a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and mathematics. Individual A-level subject entry requirements vary by discipline, with some subjects (science, mathematics) requiring specific GCSE grades or prior achievement. The college's sixth form bursary scheme provides financial support to students from low-income families, ensuring that post-16 education remains accessible regardless of economic background.

The college operates a robust pastoral framework built around the house system. Each house comprises students from across the year groups, creating vertical communities where younger students benefit from older role models and older students develop leadership skills. House Heads lead these teams, supported by tutors and welfare staff.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing receive formal attention. The college invests in counselling, peer support schemes, and staff training in recognising and responding to anxiety and distress. Students report feeling safe and having trusted adults to confide in. The school takes bullying seriously; while incidents do occasionally occur, the college's low-tolerance approach to low-level disruption extends to relational harm, and reporting mechanisms are in place for students to voice concerns.

Attendance is monitored and supported. While the school's attendance rate is marginally below the national average (95% against a national norm of approximately 96%), the college works actively with families and students to improve engagement. Educational welfare officers appointed by the local authority monitor attendance patterns, and the college coordinates intervention for chronic absence.

The college operates a traditional school day (times available on the school website; contact the college on 01373 465353 for precise timings). Frome is served by local bus routes connecting the town to surrounding villages and larger settlements. Parking is available on the college campus and surrounding roads, though congestion during peak arrival and departure times is common in term time.

The college is situated on Bath Road in Frome, approximately 20 minutes' walk from the town centre. Public transport connections link Frome to Westbury railway station (approximately 15 miles) and broader transport networks. Families without vehicles will find bus connections available, though routes and frequencies vary by location.

A-level entry selectivity. Whilst admission to Year 9 is non-selective, entry to the sixth form has minimum requirements (five GCSEs at grade 4+, including English and maths). Students whose GCSE performance falls below these thresholds may need to consider alternative post-16 providers. This creates a stepping-stone effect where the sixth form community becomes more academically selected than the main school, potentially shifting peer culture in upper years.

GCSE performance variability. Outcomes at GCSE sit squarely at the national average, not above it. Whilst this reflects the college's comprehensive intake and local authority context, families seeking schools with consistently strong GCSE results should weigh this against the college's stated strengths in pastoral care, sixth form progress, and extracurricular breadth. The value-added measures matter: students at Frome College show progress relative to their starting points, indicating effective teaching even when headline grades are modest.

Attendance patterns. Attendance sits slightly below the national average, suggesting that some cohorts experience engagement challenges. This may reflect broader socioeconomic factors in the locality, or it may point to a need for strengthened reengagement strategies. Families concerned with consistent attendance would benefit from discussing the college's approach and monitoring systems during visits.

Sixth form capacity and culture change. The sixth form is self-contained and distinct, which supports a shift toward university preparation and independent study. However, some students find the transition from Year 11 to Year 12 quite marked; the physical separation and different expectations (from GCSE teaching to A-level independence) can take time to adjust to. Students thriving on close pastoral contact in earlier years may need explicit support during this transition.

Frome Community College is a sound, established state school serving the comprehensive secondary market effectively. It excels in pastoral care, extracurricular breadth, and sixth form outcomes relative to its starting cohort. GCSE results sit at the national average, reflecting the college's genuine mixed-ability intake; this is not a selective school, and families seeking results significantly above average should look elsewhere. However, the quality of teaching, the breadth of subject choice, and the emphasis on student wellbeing and personal development make it an appealing choice for families seeking a well-rounded secondary education in a supportive environment.

The sixth form is the college's strongest offering, with A-level grades exceeding national average and a genuine pipeline to university. Students who commit to the sixth form and engage with independent study tend to prosper, progressing to a range of universities across the country.

Best suited to families within the Frome locality (or those relocating to the area) seeking a comprehensive, non-selective secondary school with strong pastoral care, diverse activity opportunities, and a genuine commitment to student wellbeing. Families whose children excel academically and are seeking GCSE results well above the national average may find more selective state schools (grammar schools in Somerset, such as Reading School) or independent alternatives better aligned with their expectations. For the majority of families in the area, however, Frome College represents the established comprehensive option with a reputation for care and breadth, backed by increasingly confident sixth form outcomes.