Old Cleeve Church of England First School

About Old Cleeve Church of England First School

Old Cleeve Church of England First School is a small state primary in Somerset with just 126 pupils, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall. That puts it in the majority of Somerset primaries — only six out of 219 schools in the local authority hold an Outstanding rating. The school’s early years provision, however, was judged Outstanding, which is a notable strength given the LA average for Key Stage 2 attainment sits at 59. While the school doesn’t publish its own KS2 results in the available data, its Good rating across quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management suggests it is performing solidly against the local benchmark. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 32 applications for 22 places, with all first-preference applicants offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.45 indicates strong local demand, and the fact that every first-preference family got in suggests the school is a realistic option for those who prioritise it.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted report (2023) shows a clear step down from its previous inspection in 2011, when it was rated Outstanding across the board. The current Good rating reflects a more measured picture: quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management are all Good, while early years provision remains Outstanding. The school does not publish Progress 8 or KS2 SATs scores in the data, so it’s not possible to compare directly against the Somerset LA average of 59 for Key Stage 2. However, the Ofsted breakdown suggests consistent performance across most areas, with the early years foundation stage being a particular highlight. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged cohort — 14.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals — which is slightly above the national average for primary schools, making its Good rating perhaps more notable in context.

The school offers a broad range of facilities for its size, including a sports hall, playing fields, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, a forest school, and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers athletics, cross country, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, dance, and cricket, while clubs include drama, choir, and eco club. SEND support is available for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication issues, hearing impairment, and visual impairment. With nursery provision on site and an age range of 3 to 9, it suits families looking for a through-school from early years to the end of Key Stage 2. The school is oversubscribed but manageable — 22 first-preference offers from 22 first-preference applications means it’s competitive but not impossible to get into, especially for families living nearby or with a church connection.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Old Cleeve Church of England First School

Helpful Guides for Parents