Initially the academy admitted pupils aged 11 to 16 and will be based in the existing schools' buildings.

[7][8] The expression of interest to become an academy was submitted by the sponsors to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in February 2009.

St Augustine had 274 pupils on roll against its capacity of 610, was in the lowest band for deprivation with 21.2% of pupils receiving free school meals against the local authority average of 7.9%, had 38% of pupils achieving five or more GCSE qualifications including English and Mathematics against the local authority average of 46.7% and national average of 47%, and for three years between 2006 and 2009 had set deficit budgets of between 8% and 14%.

[3] By June 2009, the plans looked to be under threat as parental consultation by governors at Ladymead showed strong opposition to the new academy.

[11] On 29th November 2022 a formal notice was served on the Richard Huish Trust advising that the school appeared to be 'coasting'.