Norton Hill Academy Review 2026: Strong Community Comprehensive with Outstanding Sixth Form

In the 1950s, when teacher David Penrose and pupils from this school descended into a newly discovered cave system in the Mendip Hills, they did more than explore; they left their mark on local geological history. The Hillier's Cave, named after Gordon Hillier, headmaster from 1926 to 1958, represents the school's tradition of intellectual curiosity and adventurous thinking . Today, Norton Hill Academy carries that spirit forward as a comprehensive secondary serving the Midsomer Norton community and beyond. The October 2024 Ofsted inspection awarded outstanding ratings for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form provision, with quality of education rated as good and leadership and management also good . The school ranks 1,958th in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the middle 35%. Yet for families within this Somerset school's reach, what matters most is what happens daily: engaged teaching, positive relationships, and genuine academic progress, particularly striking in the sixth form.

Norton Hill evolved from Midsomer Norton Grammar School, founded in 1911, with some current school buildings dating back to that original foundation.

The school is part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership academy group , a federation that has deepened its reach across the region. Mr Gordon Green has led the school as headteacher since April 2018 , a tenure during which Ofsted has observed the school moving from strength to strength. The atmosphere reflects traditional values married to contemporary thinking. High expectations for behaviour define the culture; in lessons, an ethos of learning prevails with students showing positive attitudes, and relationships between staff and students are excellent, with visitors remarking on how courteous and trustworthy students are.

The house system, a long-standing feature, provides pastoral continuity and identity. A well-established house system embeds character traits the school has identified, preparing pupils well for the future.

House leadership is taken seriously; each house develops community action projects led by the house council, with annual presentations awarding points to the house deemed to have made the greatest contribution, including activities such as regular visits to local residential homes and community garden projects . This tangible focus on service and leadership distinguishes the school from environments where pastoral structures exist more in theory than practice.

GCSE Performance

Norton Hill's GCSE results sit in the typical performance band for state schools in England. The school's Attainment 8 score of 52.2 places it in the top 23% of schools nationwide for this measure. At this school, 57% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE , indicating solid core attainment. At key stage four, 79% of pupils achieve standard passes in both English and Mathematics GCSEs at grades 9-4, while strong passes at grades 9-5 are achieved by 91% of those in the high prior attainment band.

The Progress 8 measure, adjusted for extreme scores, is recorded at 0.16, indicating positive progress made by students compared to national expectations.

The school ranks 1,958th in England for GCSE (FindMySchool ranking), placing it comfortably within the middle band of comprehensive schools. This ranking reflects neither exceptional nor struggling performance; rather, it represents a school delivering mainstream educational outcomes to a broad intake. The total EBacc APS score per pupil is 1,394.5, with 52% of Key Stage 4 pupils entering all English Baccalaureate subject areas , suggesting a reasonable proportion pursuing the broader academic pathway.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form stands apart. At A-level, 26% achieve A or A* grades, while 53% achieve grades between B and A*, reflecting solid academic outcomes . The school ranks 919th in England for A-level (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it in the top 35% for sixth form performance. This gap between GCSE and A-level rankings reveals a crucial truth: the school's sixth form educates its students well, supporting progression and progress beyond GCSE expectations.

The sixth form provision was rated as outstanding by Ofsted in October 2024 , a distinction that reflects genuine strengths. Students selecting A-levels here encounter teaching that values depth over breadth, with examination boards and subject specialists investing heavily in rigorous preparation.

The sixth form's success extends to higher education. Gifted and talented students benefit from an Oxbridge preparation programme and strong links forged with Harvard University , demonstrating ambition beyond traditional UK pathways. Key Stage 4 and 5 students actively participate in voluntary work through the Duke of Edinburgh and Applied Learning programmes , experiences valued by universities seeking well-rounded applicants.

Recent leavers data reveals meaningful progression. After completing A-Levels, 76% of students go for higher education or training, including 22% joining Russell Group Universities . In the measurement period, the school recorded four Oxbridge acceptances from fourteen applications. While these figures are modest in absolute terms, they reflect genuine university success for a comprehensive serving a broad community.

The curriculum follows the national framework with meaningful specialisms embedded. As a specialist Mathematics and Computing school, Norton Hill is recognised for the quality of support it offers students in developing their mathematical skills at all levels.

The school is also a specialist Languages College, allowing students to develop communication skills invaluable in the business sector; all students study a language in Year 7 and some may follow a second from Year 8 onwards.

Norton Hill is one of only a handful of schools to have received the Top version of the International School Award from the British Council on three occasions and has been awarded this for the next three years based on current opportunities offered . This recognition signals genuine engagement with global learning, moving beyond tokenistic cultural exchange toward substantive international education.

Teaching quality receives Ofsted approval. Students achieve well, including in the sixth form, because teaching is usually good and some is outstanding . The inspection noted that some teachers do not make full use of information they have about each student's previous and current achievement in planning their lessons or in their teaching , a practical observation suggesting room for refinement in personalised learning strategies.

Music and the Arts

The school's enrichment programme reflects serious investment in cultural education. The school has received the Sportsmark Award by Sport England and Artsmark Silver Award , institutional recognitions reflecting broad commitment rather than isolated excellence. Extra-curricular opportunities include outdoor education, music, drama, dance and sports, all contributing to outstanding provision available to all students.

Drama has expanded with recent investment in a new, flexible drama space for Norton Hill Academy, designed to accommodate a range of other activities as well. . This facility opens possibilities for authentic theatrical production, allowing student-led work to flourish beyond traditional school productions.

Clubs, Societies, and Community Engagement

The school cultivates specific intellectual and creative communities rather than generic offerings. Clubs include the George Orwell writing club, music producers club, and climbing club , indicating a deliberate strategy of named, substantive communities. Students in the school's Eco-Schools club take the lead on matters of sustainability in the building and neighbourhood, and through connection projects with other secondary and primary schools, students practise working with pupils of various ages . This work earns institutional recognition and embeds environmental citizenship into daily school life.

A voluntary anti-bullying mentor scheme allows students to volunteer as mentors to younger students in need of advice and support , creating peer support structures that address safeguarding through community rather than enforcement alone. The school also runs an Applied Learning programme for Key Stage 4 and 5 students seeking work-related qualifications and skills development.

Sports Facilities and Programme

The sports provision befits a mainstream comprehensive. The school offers a sports hall, gymnasium, multi-activity room, astroturf pitch, seven tennis courts and a number of grass pitches.

The sports hall can be hired for badminton, basketball, volleyball or any other indoor sports activity, with an activity studio available for smaller group activities including martial arts, dance and exercise classes . This infrastructure supports both curricular PE and after-school activity.

Technology and Innovation

The school houses numerous ICT teaching rooms with the most up-to-date hardware and software, including a brand new ICT suite , reflecting investment in computing infrastructure that matches specialist designation. The integration of digital tools across teaching creates pathways for students exploring technology-based careers.

The sixth form stands as a distinct strength. Around 70% of Norton Hill students make the natural transition to the sixth form , indicating that most pupils completing Key Stage 4 remain at the school, creating continuity and strong pastoral foundations.

The Cambridge Pre-U course is offered alongside standard A-levels , providing alternative pathways for students seeking distinction or breadth. The range of subjects, detailed curriculum design, and supportive pastoral systems combine to produce the outstanding rating the school received in October 2024. Students describe pride in sixth form achievement and clear guidance toward university or employment pathways.

Norton Hill operates as a comprehensive, non-selective secondary. The school has 1,827 students from age 11 to 18, including 378 in the sixth form as of 2024 . Admissions follow standard local authority coordination procedures. The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to 1, a staffing level within the top 21% in England, reflecting adequate resourcing for a comprehensive school.

The school draws from its local area in Midsomer Norton and serves families beyond the immediate catchment. Located between Silver Street (B3355) and Fosseway (A367) near the former Midsomer Norton railway station , the school is reasonably accessible by car and serves a mixed urban-suburban community. For families researching entry, the school's non-selective admission policy means applications follow coordinated admissions; families should contact the local authority for specific procedures.

Pastoral provision receives Ofsted recognition. Safeguarding arrangements are robust, with rigorous processes tracking attendance and providing necessary support for those at risk of disengagement, and positive interactions with designated safeguarding leads reinforce students' trust in the system designed for their protection.

Bullying is uncommon and students are confident that any incidents are dealt with swiftly and effectively; students feel very safe.

The house system delivers pastoral care through named adults and consistent relationships. The school believes in rewarding effort, achievement and community spirit, operating a system of merits throughout the school for good work or good behaviour . This visible recognition framework reinforces positive culture and acknowledges contribution beyond examination success.

The school operates standard secondary hours. The sports hall can be accessed for various community activities , indicating the school's function within the broader community. Information about specific school day timings, lunch arrangements, and uniform requirements should be verified directly with the school's website at nortonhillschool.com, as operational details shift annually.

Sixth form entry and progression. The sixth form is internal and attracts many external applicants. Entry requirements for A-level courses should be confirmed with the school directly, as selection operates subject-by-subject based on prior attainment.

Progress 8 context. The Progress 8 score of 0.16, while positive, indicates that pupils at this school make progress broadly in line with national averages after accounting for starting points. This is solid rather than exceptional value-add; families expecting dramatic progress transformation may be better suited to schools showing Progress 8 scores above +0.5.

Specialist designations balanced with breadth. While the school holds specialist status in Maths, Computing and Languages, the comprehensive curriculum means the school prioritises breadth alongside these areas. Students seeking to concentrate entirely on one specialism may prefer schools with tighter focus.

GCSE-to-A-level leap. The gap between GCSE ranking (1,958th in England) and A-level ranking (919th) indicates the sixth form operates at higher performance level than the main school. This suggests students completing GCSEs here may benefit from intensive GCSE teaching, then experience higher challenge and more independent learning in sixth form. This is appropriate progression; families should be aware the sixth form represents a significant step up in expectations and autonomy.

Norton Hill Academy delivers solid, mainstream secondary education paired with an genuinely strong sixth form. For local families within catchment, the school offers a comprehensive pathway from Year 7 through A-level with positive relationships, adequate facilities, and real university progression, particularly for post-16 students. The October 2024 Ofsted inspection's outstanding ratings for behaviour, personal development and sixth form provision indicate the school excels in pastoral care and sixth form leadership. Best suited to families seeking non-selective, community-focused secondary education with particular strength at post-16 level. The main consideration is ensuring realistic expectations about GCSE performance; this is a solid comprehensive, not a high-performing grammar alternative.