Ditcheat Primary School, Shepton Mallet

Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades Ditcheat Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils are typically ready for secondary school when they leave Ditcheat."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders' meticulous work on attendance has resulted in pupils attending in line with national averages and this is continually improving."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have constructed an ambitious, broad and well-sequenced curriculum across subjects."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years curriculum is well designed and sequenced across the areas of learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school's vision for inclusion is built on a commitment to remove barriers so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged receive timely and well-targeted support."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the school's previous inspection, it has joined the East Somerset Federation."

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

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that teachers check how well pupils understand new knowledge and that teachers identify and address misconceptions so that pupils do not make repeated errors. • Leaders should ensure that staff teach pupils how to form letters correctly, using the correct pencil grip so that they can write confidently and fluently".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our thriving village school in the heart of Ditcheat village. We work closely with our whole community to ensure that we achieve our mission statement to Inspire a Love of Learning for Life. Ofsted carried out a 2 day inspection in November 2021 and we are thrilled to announce we are a 'GOOD' provider."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, basketball, cross-country, drama, choir, robotics and cooking.

The school runs after-school care until 5:00pm.

Coming up: an open day on Friday 20 November 2026 at 9.15am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Ditcheat Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 73% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Ditcheat Primary School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ditcheat Primary School are Evercreech Church of England Primary School (2.4 miles); Castle Cary Community Primary School (2.8 miles, 74% reading, 77% maths); Lovington Church of England Primary School (3.5 miles); and Bruton Primary School (3.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 82% maths).

Ditcheat Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ditcheat Primary School (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

13.5% 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, 6 pupils (6.7%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ditcheat Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Castle Cary Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bus Shelter (n-bound), 240 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).

In 2024/25, Ditcheat Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.