About Our School

About our school 

Ralph Allen School is a high achieving, non-denominational 11-18 school for girls and boys on the skyline of the world heritage city of Bath, in the local authority of Bath and North East Somerset.  The school became an academy in August 2012 and a member of the Palladian Academy Trust in 2016.  We have approximately 1300 pupils and take 210 pupils in each year in six forms of entry (years 7-11); there are approximately 280 pupils in the sixth form. We serve the community of Bath and villages to the south of the city. The school is surrounded by green sites managed by English Nature and the National Trust. Its local village is Combe Down.

The school is named after Ralph Allen (1693-1764), the Bath mine owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist who contributed much to the building of Georgian Bath and the early development of the post office. The school was built in 1957 and has been further extended and developed since then.

The school has consistently excellent results in the three core subjects, English, Maths and Science, and in 2018 achieved its best ever A level results, 45% A*-A.  It has developed as a centre of excellence for STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).  Students attend annual conferences at the University of Bath on sustainability for young people in the community in partnership with Resource Futures and the school has developed a wide range of partnerships to enhance the teaching of STEM subjects.

We have also received the following awards: Artsmark Silver, Investors in People, Investors in Student Careers, Healthy Schools Plus, Partnership Promotion School and Sportsmark Gold.  We are a Dyson School and a CueZone snooker school.

The school has undergone successive modifications to include young people with special needs and disabilities into the whole life of the school.

The Ofsted inspection in April 2018 graded the school as 'good' and some features were noted to be outstanding. 'The Headteacher is passionate about the school and provides strong and confident leadership, together with a clear sense of direction. You have developed a strong culture of ambition and aspiration among both staff and pupils. Governors are well informed and provide you with a good balance of support and challenge.' Ofsted April 2018. 

The school works closely with partners including the Dyson Foundation, the University of Bath, local schools, business and health service providers to improve outcomes for young people and the community.

The school campus undergoes a continuous programme of improvement.  2011 saw the opening of the new art and photography space with new art and photography and textiles classrooms, meeting spaces and a Snack Shack.  In 2012 a new reception area was opened together with a second outdoor learning space and refurbished Science teaching spaces.

The Lee Sixth Form Centre and all-weather sports pitch opened in 2013, expanded the range of learning opportunities for both the school and across the local area with an emphasis on sixth form students and further developing our excellent sports provision.  The building also provides a community facility out of hours.  The school has worked closely with ex-student Fergus Feilden and his architectural practice Feilden Fowles on the project, and it is an exemplary environmental building, designed along with passive solar principles and sensible design rather than environmental add-ons. Inclusivity is at the heart of Ralph Allen School’s ethos and the Lee Centre is accessible to all, promoting equal access and opportunities throughout.

The Rose Building opened in 2014. This two-storey teaching block for English and Modern Foreign Languages was named after inspirational ex-Assistant Principal Mr Steve Rose who worked at the school for 37 years.  The provision of this building enabled us to demolish many of the temporary teaching buildings on the south of the site, a long-held desire which we were delighted to realise.

The next phase of the development plan was the purpose-built dining hall which opened in September 2019, and a new maths building which opened in September 2020.  

'Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the quality of care and education their children receive.'  Ofsted April 2018. The local community regards the school highly and gives us considerable support. In turn, the school provides venues and facilities for many community activities and events.

Recently we have worked hard with local primary schools on the formation of the Palladian Academy Trust, a development we are passionate about. The new multi-academy trust (MAT) is a group of like-minded local schools – all academies – that have chosen to work together in partnership for the benefit of our children’s education.