Ditcheat Primary School, Shepton Mallet
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Ditcheat is a warm, inclusive school where your child will feel safe and supported. The school has a strong track record of helping all pupils - especially those who face barriers to learning - achieve well from their starting points. Teachers are well-trained and make learning engaging, with children particularly enjoying reading time and hands-on learning activities like creating 'Ditcheat Dollars' to learn about money.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading from the start - pupils learn phonics well and read confidently early on
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that ensures pupils learn the most important knowledge they need
- Excellent support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs - they make good progress from their starting points
- Calm, respectful school environment where pupils enjoy learning and behaviour is excellent
- Strong partnership with parents, including reading workshops and early years support
Areas for Improvement
- Some younger pupils struggle with letter formation and pencil grip, affecting writing fluency and legibility
- Teachers don't always check whether all pupils understand new learning, so some misconceptions go unaddressed
- Attendance remains low for a small group of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, all legal requirements are met, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Basketball, carnival club, outdoor exploration, reading workshops, community partnerships with local church and cheese factory, link school in Zambia
Ditcheat Primary School is a nurturing place where pupils achieve close to national averages and develop well across a broad, ambitious curriculum. Leaders have made strong improvements since the previous inspection, particularly in writing and mathematics.
At a Glance
13.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 73% to 100%. Maths has remained stable at around 90%. Writing has improved from 67% to 80%.
Class Sizes
19.8
Avg class size
4
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
89 pupils
90 capacity
1 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Shepton Mallet
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Shepton Mallet
Admissions Demand - Somerset
Places available
6,463
Applications
5,059
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Somerset (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.95778%
Overall absence
9.09091%
Persistent absence
77
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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