East Brent Church of England First School, Highbridge
East Brent Church of England First School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 9 in Highbridge, part of Wessex Learning Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. It was 61% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Somerset (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
East Brent Church of England First School in detail
East Brent Church of England First School in its own words
In its own words: "East Brent CofE Academy is an inclusive and joyful school that provides a stimulating environment in which we celebrate and nurture every child. Through an enriching education rooted in core Christian values, we challenge and support our children to reach their full potential and become respectful and loving individuals. At East Brent, A love of learning is nurtured and enriched."
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of East Brent Church of England Academy, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our school. At East Brent, our staff, parents/carers and local partners aim to work closely together for the benefit of every child."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at East Brent Church of England First School
For September 2026 entry, 13 families put East Brent Church of England First School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at East Brent Church of England First School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to East Brent Church of England First School are Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 95% reading, 91% maths); Lympsham Church of England Academy (1.6 miles, Good); Burnham-On-Sea Infant School (2.5 miles); and Berrow Church Primary School (2.8 miles, 58% reading, 63% maths).
Brent Knoll Church of England Primary SchoolLympsham Church of England AcademyBurnham-On-Sea Infant SchoolBerrow Church Primary School
The trust
East Brent Church of England First School is one of 23 schools run by Wessex Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about East Brent Church of England First School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (90%).
Who goes there
14.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 8 pupils (10.4%) received SEN support and 2 (2.6%) 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.
Staffing
East Brent Church of England First School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea Rail Station, about 3.4 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Road (sw-bound), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, public order offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).
Suspensions and exclusions
East Brent Church of England First School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a caring, nurturing school where children thrive academically and personally. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and provide excellent support for reading and mathematics, helping pupils build strong foundations. The school creates a warm, welcoming environment where pupils are happy, feel safe, and develop into respectful citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong teaching of reading, writing and mathematics with effective phonics support
- Well-designed, broad curriculum that develops pupils' knowledge from early years onwards
- Excellent pastoral care and behavior management - pupils are polite, respectful and behave well
- Effective support for pupils with SEND matched to individual needs
- High expectations for attendance and behavior with robust tracking systems in place
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment in some wider curriculum subjects needs improvement - pupils sometimes struggle to make links with previous learning
- Teachers need to use checks more effectively to ensure pupils remember what they have learned in the longer term
- Some pupils have gaps in knowledge that are not identified or addressed quickly enough
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that prioritizes pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
After-school clubs including circus skills, gymnastics, football, annual careers week
East Brent Church of England First School is a small, welcoming school that has maintained good standards. Pupils are happy, feel safe, and receive high-quality care with strong teaching in reading, writing, and mathematics.
At a Glance
14.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
30 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
17.3
Avg class size
13.5
Infant (KS1)
25.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with East Brent Church of England First School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to East Brent Church of England First School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. East Brent Church of England First 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
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 East Brent Church of England First School
Will you get a place at East Brent Church of England First School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against East Brent Church of England First School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for East Brent Church of England First School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to East Brent Church of England First School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Somerset, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at East Brent Church of England First School for 2017 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
61%
Available places
55 pupils
90 places
35 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Highbridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Highbridge
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
13.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
77
Total Pupils
34
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
15.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,205
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,335
Per pupil
£505k
Total funding
£20k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
8.9%
Persistent absence
45
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about East Brent Church of England First School
What is East Brent Church of England First School's Ofsted rating?
East Brent Church of England First School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for East Brent Church of England First School?
No fixed boundary. When East Brent Church of England First 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 East Brent Church of England First School?
East Brent Church of England First School was not full in 2025: it ran at 61% of its 90 places.
How big are the classes at East Brent Church of England First School?
Classes at East Brent Church of England First School average 17.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to East Brent Church of England First School?
East Brent Church of England First School has around 77 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at East Brent Church of England First School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at East Brent Church of England First School in 2024/25. 8.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to East Brent Church of England First School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming East Brent Church of England First 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 East Brent Church of England First School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 East Brent Church of England First School?
East Brent Church of England First School is at Church Road, East Brent, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4HZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)