Classpot

Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School

Somerset, TA20 3SJPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Oct 2021
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
7 1st-choice / 9 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School

Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Somerset, currently teaching 62 pupils against a capacity of 90, so there is room to grow. Its intake reflects a slightly higher-than-average level of disadvantage for a rural primary: 14% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 24%. The school has a nursery provision for children aged two and up, feeding into the main school. Demand is modest but real — for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 13 applications for 9 places, with 7 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.44. That suggests a small but loyal local catchment, with enough interest to fill places without the fierce competition seen in larger village schools. The school is mixed and Church of England, so faith families in the area may find it a natural fit, though the data doesn't specify any faith-based admissions criteria.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressFairend Lane, Chard, Somerset, TA20 3SJ
HeadteacherEthne Staniland
Local AuthoritySomerset
Number of Pupils62
Free School Meals (FSM)14.0%
School Capacity62 / 90 (69% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

12 Oct 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Sports HallICT SuiteGymnasiumMusic RoomsSensory RoomPlaying FieldsLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

TennisNetballGymnasticsDanceRoundersFootball

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubBook ClubDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:45

After-school care

15:15-17:30

Source: bucklandstmarycofeprimary.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School

Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.