Cutcombe Church of England First School

About Cutcombe Church of England First School

Cutcombe Church of England First School is a tiny primary in Somerset with just 37 pupils on roll, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in early 2025 judged it Good across the board. That puts it in solid company locally: of the 219 primary schools in the Somerset local authority, only six hold an Outstanding rating, so Good is a strong and common benchmark. The school’s Key Stage 2 average attainment sits at 59, which is exactly in line with the LA average for its type. That’s a notable achievement for a school of this size, where small cohorts can make results more volatile. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 12 applications for 10 places and all 10 first-preference families offered a spot, suggesting strong local demand. Parents seem to agree: 86% would recommend the school, and 79% strongly agree their child is happy here.

Academically, the school’s performance is steady rather than flashy. The Key Stage 2 average of 59 matches the Somerset average exactly, meaning pupils leave at age nine with results typical for the area. The Ofsted report from February 2025 rated quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as Good, with early years provision also Good. That’s a step down from the school’s previous graded inspection in 2008, which was Outstanding across the board, but the ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed standards are being maintained. Parent feedback on academic expectations is mixed: 43% strongly agree the school has high expectations, but 7% disagree and another 7% don’t know. However, 71% strongly agree their child does well here, and the same proportion strongly agree the school lets them know how their child is progressing.

The school offers a surprising range of facilities for its size, including art studios, music rooms, a sensory room, an ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, cross country, athletics, gymnastics, rounders, and swimming, while clubs include drama, eco club, art club, and gardening. The nursery provision means children can join from age two, and the school has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The parent view data on SEND support is empty, so it’s unclear how families with SEND children feel. The school is oversubscribed at 1.2 applications per place, so early application is wise. This is a good fit for families who want a small, Church of England village school with strong pastoral care and a broad curriculum, and who are comfortable with its Good rather than Outstanding Ofsted rating.

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