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Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy

Somerset, TA9 4QAPrimaryAges 2–9MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
2 Good · 3 Requires improvement
Jan 2025
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
13 1st-choice / 13 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy

Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy, a Church of England primary in Somerset for children aged 2 to 9, received a Requires Improvement overall rating in its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025. This marks a notable shift from its previous inspection in 2012, when it was judged Good. The breakdown shows a mixed picture: inspectors rated personal development and behaviour and attitudes as Good, but quality of education and early years provision both require improvement, and leadership and management was also judged Requires Improvement. The school is small, with 158 pupils against a capacity of 150, and 9. 5 per cent of children are eligible for free school meals. Despite the Ofsted rating, parent opinion is overwhelmingly positive — 93 per cent of respondents to the Parent View survey would recommend the school, and 63 per cent strongly agreed that their child is happy there. The survey, based on 56 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, also showed strong agreement that the school has high expectations and that children do well.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressThe Causeway, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4QA
HeadteacherOliver Laken
Local AuthoritySomerset
Number of Pupils158
Free School Meals (FSM)9.5%
School Capacity158 / 150 (105% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 56 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy

Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy 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.