Backwell School 4.25

Backwell School is a comprehensive secondary academy in Backwell, North Somerset, England. It is considered to be one of the best performing state schools in England, leading results at both GCSE and A level in the area and consistently being rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted.The school is a National Teaching School, through which it leads the North Somerset Teaching Alliance, with Healthy School Plus and International School status. Since March 2011 the school has been a self-governing academy convert. It also holds the Artsmark Gold award and includes a sixth form.It has 1,738 pupils, of which 387 are in the schools sixth form, from the age of 11 (year 7) to the age of 18 (year 13). Backwell has previously been a Beacon School, visual and performing arts college specialist school and National Training School.HistoryThe original secondary modern school at Backwell was founded by Somerset County Council in 1954 and later became a comprehensive school in 1976 when the tripartite education system was abolished in the area. The school's original building dates from 1954, when Britain was in the midst of a post-war school-building boom.In 2009, 71% of GCSE pupils achieved at least five GCSE passes above grade C including English and Maths. This is 21% above the national average that year. It is the highest performing state secondary school in North Somerset.