Dunster First School
About Dunster First School
Dunster First School is a small state primary in Somerset, currently teaching 103 pupils against a capacity of 150, meaning it has room to grow. Its intake reflects a notably higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 18. 4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23% and the Somerset average of roughly 17%. The school is clearly in demand locally. For the 2025/26 reception intake, it offered 14 places and received 32 applications in total, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2. 29. All 14 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the wider interest suggests families see it as a strong option. The school is mixed, non-religious, and takes children from age 4 to 9, after which they move on to a middle school. Headteacher Paul James leads a team that has kept the school stable through its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2024Latest monitoring visit (26 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 Dec 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:25
Breakfast club
08:00-08:55
After-school care
15:25-17:30
Source: dunsterfirstschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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