Coxley Primary School, Wells

Ofsted's report card from its 14 January 2026 inspection grades Coxley Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard, 4 needs attention and 1 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has increased rapidly."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal development programme is well designed."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils are not as well prepared as they should be for their next stage of education."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Some staff have not had the support they need to teach the curriculum effectively."

Early years - Needs attention. "Although the curriculum is designed well, the quality of education in the early years is not of the expected standard."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Pupils with additional vulnerabilities, such as those who are disadvantaged, experience the same weaknesses in teaching and the curriculum as their peers."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "The school's governance arrangements are weak."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The school must strengthen its governance arrangements. Governors should ensure that they carry out their necessary statutory function so that they can effectively support and challenge leaders"; "Leaders, including governors, must work cohesively to develop an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses, working together to drive forward school improvement priorities"; "Leaders should ensure that the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified consistently and used to address pupils' barriers to learning and to inform curriculum implementation"; "Leaders should review their approach to professional development to ensure that staff have the necessary expertise to deliver the curriculum effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that staff assess pupils' knowledge to identify and address gaps in their learning, so that teaching allows them to build effectively on prior learning"; "Leaders should ensure that staff maximise opportunities for high-quality interactions in the early years, so that all children develop the vocabulary and communication they need to prepare them for their next stage of education"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen pupils' knowledge about cultures and faiths to prepare them for life in modern Britain".

From the headteacher's welcome: "YARLEY CLASS Our Key Stage 1 class consisting of Year 1 & Year 2 children. CALLOW CLASS Our Lower Key Stage 2 class consisting of Year 3 & Year 4 children. HAY CLASS Our Upper Key Stage 3 class consisting of Year 5 & Year 6 children."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Coxley Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Coxley Primary School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 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 Coxley Primary School are St Cuthbert's Church of England Academy Infants and Pre-School (1.5 miles, Good); Wookey Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 54% reading, 46% maths); St Cuthbert's Church of England Junior School (1.5 miles); and St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School (2.1 miles, 87% reading, 74% maths).

Coxley Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Coxley Primary School (as of April 2026): 91% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).

11.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 17 pupils (24.3%) received SEN support and 1 (1.4%) 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.

Coxley Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Coxley Primary School.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Harters Hill Lane (sw-bound), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).

In 2024/25, Coxley Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 4.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.