Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School, Radstock
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Radstock. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 13 schools in Radstock with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 72% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School in detail
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Our school is very much at the centre of our wonderful community and we work closely together to make sure that this is a great place for children to learn and reach their full potential."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 5:00pm.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 68% in reading and 57% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School are Leigh On Mendip School (1.6 miles, Good, 90% reading, 70% maths); Stoke St Michael Primary School (1.9 miles, 50% reading, 33% maths); Kilmersdon Church School (2.1 miles); and St Vigor & St John Church School (2.3 miles, Good, 84% reading, 88% maths).
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Leigh On Mendip SchoolStoke St Michael Primary SchoolKilmersdon Church SchoolSt Vigor & St John Church School
What parents say
36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 72% would recommend the school, 75% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).
Who goes there
0.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 16 places, 4 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Farley Dell (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 9 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, criminal damage and arson and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 6.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 11 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bishop Henderson excels at creating a caring, inclusive community where children feel valued and happy from their first day. The early years provision is particularly strong, with skilled staff using language-rich teaching to prepare children well for key stage 1. The school offers rich enrichment activities that develop the whole child, including music, sports and outdoor learning, ensuring all pupils can participate regardless of background.
Key Strengths
- Strong early years provision with ambitious, language-rich curriculum that helps children thrive academically and personally
- Excellent personal development and well-being opportunities including rock band, school choir, gardening and archery clubs
- Warm, caring school culture with high expectations for behaviour and attendance, where pupils feel safe and know staff will act on concerns
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils in key stage 2 have gaps in reading, writing and mathematics that hamper their ability to learn well
- Support for pupils with SEND is not monitored closely enough and targets lack precision, meaning some pupils do not progress as quickly as they should
- Attendance information is not analysed thoroughly enough to identify patterns for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Rock band, school choir, gardening club, archery club, residential trips, outdoor learning, musical performances, sports captains leadership, collective worship team
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School provides a warm and caring environment where pupils feel safe and happy. The school has made significant improvements in early years provision and personal development, though gaps remain in key stage 2 reading, writing and mathematics due to a legacy of weak curriculum.
At a Glance
22.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
36 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 57% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 88% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School is in Somerset; for families living there:
Apply to Somerset for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Somerset got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
72%
Available places
108 pupils
150 places
42 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Radstock
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Radstock
Across Somerset council
Places available
6,414
Applications
4,928
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
19.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 16 places, 4 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
133
Total Pupils
64
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,785
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,421
Per pupil
£786k
Total funding
£44k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
102
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2025, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Somerset allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 72% of its 150 places.
How big are the classes at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School has around 133 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 16 places, 4 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School?
Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School is at Farley Dell, Coleford, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 5PN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)