MixedIndependentBoarding

Sidcot School

Winscombe, North Somerset, South West · BS25 1PD

Founded in 1699, Sidcot is one of the oldest schools in the country and carries a distinctly Quaker character, with the values of community, equality and quiet reflection woven through daily life. The school takes pupils from age 3 to 19, offering both day and boarding places across a medium-sized roll of around 595, including a sixth form of 114. Inspectors from the ISI rated the school good overall in its most recent inspection, and judged personal development to be excellent, which sits comfortably with its ethos. A no-mobile-phone policy for years 7 to 11 reinforces a focus on presence and pastoral care.

595

Pupils

good

ISI

£24,570

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 3-19
Pupils: 595
Pupil:teacher ratio: 20
Location: Winscombe, North Somerset, South West
Website: www.sidcot.org.uk
Telephone: 01934 843102

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Head James Jones

Latest results

Attainment 8

29.8

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

29%

A-level A*-A

32%

A-level A*-B

55%

Teaching & academics

Sidcot's headline results sit below national benchmarks: its Attainment 8 score of 29.8 trails the national average of 46.9, and the proportion securing strong passes in English and Maths is recorded at zero against a national figure of 47%. That said, 29% of GCSE entries reached grades 9 to 7, and at A-level around a third achieved A*-A. The school offers an unusually broad menu of qualifications, including GCSE, A-level, the IB, BTEC and the EPQ, which gives families genuine choice in how a pupil studies. With more than a quarter of pupils on SEN support, the school appears geared towards individual attention rather than a single academic mould.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 114

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsPsychologyBusiness StudiesEconomicsBiologySpanish

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelIBBTECEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 28.57%
EHC plans: 0.81%

Arts & extracurricular

Languages

SpanishChinese

Popular GCSE subjects

English LanguageEnglish LiteratureBiologyChemistryPhysicsArt & Design

Beyond the classroom

Languages have a notable presence, with Spanish and Chinese taught alongside the core curriculum. Popular subject choices range from the sciences and economics to art and design, suggesting a school where creative and analytical interests are both catered for.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1699
Religious character: Quaker
Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

No-mobile-phone school. Students in years 7-11 are not permitted to have phones during the school day. Sixth form students may have mobile phones, but they must remain out of sight and only be used in the sixth form centre

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £10,560 - £24,570
Boarding fees (per year): £38,880 - £47,790
Bursaries up to: 10% of fees

Means-tested bursaries with several alternative funding pots

Inspection reports

ISI rating: good
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 21 January 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A historic Quaker school that prizes character and breadth over league-table positioning. Best suited to families drawn to its values and its wide range of qualification routes, with means-tested bursaries to widen access.

The Passmate verdict