Horrington Primary School

About Horrington Primary School

Horrington Primary School in Somerset was rated Requires Improvement in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a significant change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2011. The inspection report gave the school a mixed picture: personal development was judged Good, but the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all require improvement. Early years provision also needs work. The most telling academic metric is the Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard, where just 38% of pupils met the benchmark. That places the school 121st out of 134 primary schools in Somerset, putting it in the bottom half of the local authority. For context, the Somerset average for this measure is 59%, so Horrington's result is notably below the typical performance for the area.

Looking at the individual subject scores, reading is the strongest area: 63% of pupils reached the expected standard and 19% achieved a higher standard. Writing saw 69% at expected and 13% at higher, while maths was weaker, with only 44% at expected and 6% at higher. The average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 100 in maths, both around the national average of 100. Progress scores are not available for this cohort, so it's hard to say how much value the school is adding. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 8% of all primaries for the combined expected standard metric. The data suggests that while some pupils do well in reading and writing, maths outcomes are a particular concern, and the school's overall academic performance is well below what most parents would hope for.

Horrington is a small school with 103 pupils against a capacity of 117, and it is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 17 applications for 7 places, with all 7 first-preference applicants offered a spot. The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, music rooms, a gymnasium, ICT suite, library, forest school, playing fields, and even a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, netball, cross country, rounders, swimming, and tennis, with clubs such as chess, choir, and art club. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. This is a school that will suit families who value a small, community-focused setting and are comfortable with the current academic challenges, particularly in maths, and who are prepared to support the school's improvement journey.

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