In 2015,[needs update] it had 1,176 pupils aged 13 to 18, of both sexes and all ability levels including 333 in the sixth form.

[8] At GCSE level 73% of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grade passes, compared with 56% in Somerset and the rest of England.

[12] Since 2001, the school's GCSE results have been consistently higher than both the local authority and English averages.

[5] The report called the school "amazing" and praised the head, staff and governors for producing students of "world class" quality.

The report acknowledged that the school had made well targeted improvements since its 2002 inspection, but pointed out that "Development plans are not clear enough about how actions will be evaluated, particularly their effect on pupils' achievement".

It described the school as a "friendly, harmonious community" and praised the way students took responsibility for their own learning.

[29] Ball then became chief executive of the Wessex Learning Trust and Dave Wiltshire was appointed as headteacher.

The school is located within a conservation area and all building work is supervised in case excavations reveal any significant archaeological finds.

[31] In 1963, the discovery of the Saxon Palace delayed the school building programme for one year whilst the Archaeologists began their work.

[32] In January 2006, during the building of a new languages block at the school a grave, believed to be Roman, was uncovered.

At least one member of staff has been found to have genetic links to Stone Age inhabitants of the area.

This is claimed to be the longest human lineage ever to be traced, and supports the theory that the Britons were descended from ancient hunter-gatherers who later turned to agriculture, rather than a from more recent wave of immigrant farmers.Being in a rural area with few large local manufacturers, the school had some difficulty in raising the £54,000 of sponsorship necessary to gain Technology College status,[35] but many small donations from local employers and charities enabled it to reach the target.

[37] The school's governing body voted in favour of a move to Academy status in June 2010.

[41] The school obtained planning permission in 2017 for a new AstroTurf surface to enhance the sporting facilities at the academy.

In 2003, 22 children who were said to be wearing unsuitable uniforms were isolated in the school's supervised learning unit and forbidden to talk to each other.

It is unfortunate this student and parents chose to escalate a relatively minor disciplinary incident by repeatedly refusing to accept the punishment."

Subsequent press coverage praised the school for taking a firm stance on discipline.

[48] In June 2009, the school once again made national headlines when the headteacher announced a ban on pupils kissing.

[49] The academy also faced criticism from students and parents when it removed drama from its list of GCSE and A-Level options for the 2015/16 academic year.

[50] A petition was started and gained over 2000 signatures including that of former student, comedian and writer, Richard Herring.

In response to the matter, the school spokesperson, Jude Owens, said, "The academy enforces a strict behaviour policy and has high expectations for all students.