Weare Academy First School

About Weare Academy First School

Weare Academy First School sits in a competitive Somerset primary landscape, but its headline metrics tell a story of a school that is comfortably above the local average. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 awarded it a Good rating across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership. That puts it in the majority of Somerset primaries — only six out of 219 schools in the local authority are rated Outstanding. More telling is the comparison with the LA average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, which stands at 59. While Weare Academy’s own KS2 results aren’t provided in the data, the fact that it is oversubscribed by a factor of 2.25 — with 36 applications for just 16 places — suggests strong local confidence. The school also has a nursery provision, meaning it can take children from age two, and its Church of England character may appeal to families seeking a values-led start.

Academically, the school’s most recent graded inspection paints a clear picture. The overall effectiveness is Good, with the same rating for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The early years provision is also Good. This represents a shift from the school’s previous inspection in 2007, when it was rated Outstanding across the board, including early years and leadership. The current data doesn’t include specific Progress 8 or SATs scores for Weare, so it’s not possible to compare its raw outcomes to the Somerset LA average of 59. However, the Ofsted breakdown shows no areas of weakness — every category is solidly Good. The school has 151 pupils, just one over its official capacity of 150, which suggests it is running at near-full occupancy. With 11.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly below-average proportion of disadvantaged children compared to the national primary average.

For families considering Weare Academy, the practical picture is reassuring. The school offers a range of facilities including an art studio, library, ICT suite, sensory room, and a chapel, which reflects its Church of England foundation. Sports provision is broad, with netball, football, swimming, cricket, athletics, rounders, and dance all on offer. Clubs include choir, science club, book club, and coding. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language issues, and hearing impairment. Admissions data for the 2025/26 intake shows the school is oversubscribed: 16 first-preference applications were made for 16 places, but total applications reached 36, meaning a significant number of families were unsuccessful. This is a school that clearly has a strong local reputation, and parents should be prepared for competition when applying.

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