Croscombe Church of England Primary School

About Croscombe Church of England Primary School

Croscombe Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Somerset, with just 40 pupils on roll against a capacity of 90. That means the school is operating at less than half its potential size, which is striking for a village primary. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20 per cent, above the national average for primary schools, suggesting a more diverse intake than some local peers. Despite the spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving four applications for three places and offering two of those to first-preference families. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.33, a modest but clear signal of local demand. The school is Church of England, led by headteacher Chris Partridge, and serves the 4-11 age range. With a small cohort and a full range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, chapel and sports hall, it offers a broad physical environment for a school of its size.

Academically, the picture is more mixed. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023, the school was rated Requires Improvement across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This was a downgrade from its previous inspection in November 2019, which also rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement but had given personal development a higher mark of Good. The early years provision was also rated Requires Improvement in both inspections. For context, only six of the 219 primary schools in Somerset currently hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, so Croscombe is not alone in struggling to reach the top grades. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 59 per cent, though the school’s own KS2 results are not provided in the data. Parents considering the school will want to examine the most recent SATs outcomes and ask how leadership plans to address the inspection findings.

On the practical side, the school offers a strong set of facilities for its size, including an ICT suite, library, art studios, gymnasium and a forest school. Sports provision covers dance, football, rounders and cricket, while clubs include book club, drama, choir, film club and eco club. The SEND provision is notably broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. This suggests the school is equipped to support a range of additional needs, which may appeal to families seeking an inclusive setting. With just 40 pupils, class sizes are likely very small, offering plenty of individual attention. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and is not a boarding school. Given its Requires Improvement rating and small roll, it may suit families who value a close-knit, rural Church of England environment and are comfortable working with the school during a period of improvement.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Croscombe Church of England Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents