The Kings of Wessex Academy
Academy converter secondary school in Cheddar (Somerset).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Welcome to Kings Academy a place where every member of our community matters, and where we recognise that every interaction, however small, has the potential to shape a young person's sense of self, purpose, and possibility. Belonging isn't just something we value; it's the foundation on which everything else is built.
We are proud to be the top-performing secondary school in Somerset, with consistently strong results at Key Stage 4 and 5. But numbers only tell part of the story. Just as important is the daily effort by staff and students alike to create a culture where curiosity is nurtured, support is expected, and ambition is shared.
We are committed to striking the right balance: helping every student make meaningful academic progress while also receiving exceptional pastoral care and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Our curriculum is broad and balanced, designed to prepare students for life beyond school.
From academic challenge to enrichment activities, we want every student to feel stretched, seen, and supported. Our beautiful grounds and excellent facilities nestled in the heart of the Cheddar Valley community provide the perfect environment for students to thrive not just academically, but personally.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Awards
2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
- UNICEF Rights Respecting SchoolsChildren's rights
Key facts
- URN
- 136783
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 13 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Constituency
- Wells and Mendip Hills
- Setting
- Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2011
Governing body (7 current, 3 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.1 governor is linked to a profile (all confirmed).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Lisa Clark | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by trustees | since 2025 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Wiltshire | Local Governor | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2026 |
| Mr Marcus Hunt | Local Governor | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Dr Niamh McGrogan | Local Governor | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Richard Oliver Confirmed same person | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Sarah Bougourd | Local Governor | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Suzie Smith | Local Governor | Appointed by academy members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Joanne Cowper Former | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Stuart Burns Former | Local Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Megan James Former | Local Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record