Churchfield Church School, Highbridge

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Churchfield Church School on 7 areas: 1 expected standard and 6 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has been through a significant period of instability since the previous inspection."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Many pupils are not well prepared for the next stages of education."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance is below national rates, and has been for some time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers do not use assessment well to pinpoint where gaps in pupils' knowledge lie."

Early years - Needs attention. "Leaders have not made clear the vocabulary that they want children to learn at each stage in Nursery and Reception."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils who face barriers to learning have not received the support they need to make the progress they should."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "Over time, the school's programme for personal development has had shortcomings."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff assess the specific gaps in pupils' knowledge and use this information to adapt lessons effectively in order to meet pupils' needs consistently and overcome barriers to learning and their wellbeing"; "Leaders should further develop the consistency of the effective teaching practice that has been established so that more pupils go on to achieve as well as they should in national tests and examinations"; "Leaders should continue to build on the school's work to promote high rates of attendance to ensure it has the intended impact, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that staff in the early years know what words children must learn and that these words are taught by all staff and learned by all children"; "Leaders should embed the school's personal development programme so that pupils develop a better understanding of, and respect for, difference and the law, fundamental British values and religious diversity in modern Britain".

In 2025, 47% of Year 6 pupils at Churchfield Church School reached the expected standard in reading and 37% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 56% in reading and 48% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 45 families put Churchfield Church School as their first choice and 51 named it as one of their preferences, for 47 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Churchfield Church School are St Joseph's Catholic Primary and Nursery School (1 mile, 74% reading, 80% maths); West Huntspill Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 59% reading, 45% maths); St Andrew's Church Junior School (1.2 miles); and Burnham-On-Sea Infant School (1.2 miles).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Churchfield Church School.

Churchfield Church School is one of 46 schools run by The Bath and Wells Diocesan Academies Trust, an academy trust.

31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Churchfield Church School (as of April 2026): 32% would recommend the school, 36% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (42%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

39.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 10.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 89 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 14 (3.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Churchfield Church School had 22 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Old Burnham Road (s-bound), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Churchfield Church School issued 32 suspensions, 7.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.