South Petherton Junior School, South Petherton
South Petherton Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in South Petherton. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 66th-highest of the 155 schools in Somerset with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Capacity
- 97% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
South Petherton Junior School in detail
South Petherton Junior School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "South Petherton Junior School is a high-achieving, happy, vibrant and forward-thinking school where children excel both academically and socially. Our eager learners have a genuine thirst for knowledge, and our dedicated staff team work tirelessly to ensure every child reaches their full potential. We set high standards and expect the best because we believe every child deserves it."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include athletics, choir, journalism and cheerleading.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at South Petherton Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 71% in Somerset and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 85% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at South Petherton Junior School
Across Somerset, 95% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Somerset lodged 85 appeals against primary school offers; 49 reached a hearing and 2 succeeded (4.1% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to South Petherton Junior School are South Petherton Church of England Infants and Pre School (0.3 miles, Outstanding); Norton Sub Hamdon Church School (2.1 miles, 79% reading, 64% maths); Shepton Beauchamp Church School (2.1 miles, 57% reading, 57% maths); and Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 76% reading, 81% maths).
South Petherton Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
South Petherton Church of England Infants and Pre SchoolNorton Sub Hamdon Church SchoolShepton Beauchamp Church SchoolKingsbury Episcopi Primary School
What parents say
66 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about South Petherton Junior School (as of September 2025): 85% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 76% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (76%).
Who goes there
0.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 29 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 3 (1.9%) 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.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of South Petherton Junior School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Petherton Junior School (n-bound), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, South Petherton Junior School issued 1 suspension, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
South Petherton Junior School is a place where children thrive both academically and personally. Staff have the highest expectations for all pupils and create a caring environment where behaviour is exemplary and pupils are eager to learn. The school offers a rich curriculum with plenty of opportunities for children to develop confidence, pursue interests through clubs, and take on meaningful leadership roles.
Key Strengths
- Exemplary behaviour and attitudes throughout the school, with pupils reflecting school values of respect, kindness and perseverance
- Strong reading provision with well-established processes to identify pupils needing help, plus a well-stocked library and diverse books available around the school
- Rich and ambitious wider curriculum delivered with strong subject knowledge, particularly in music, geography and art
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, who learn the same inspiring curriculum as their peers
- Multiple opportunities for personal development including leadership roles, performances and confidence-building activities
Areas for Improvement
- In some foundation subjects, teachers do not effectively check what knowledge pupils remember from previous lessons, meaning gaps are not identified and addressed
- Some pupils struggle to draw on important knowledge learned previously to support their future learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling safe and knowing they can turn to any staff member for support.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, gymnastics, gardening, art club, reading ambassadors, sports leaders, well-being warriors, music performances, charity fundraising events, poetry performances at local care home
South Petherton Junior School is a community junior school where pupils beam with pride and behaviour is exemplary. The school has strong aspirations for all pupils, including those with SEND, and achieves above average outcomes in national tests.
At a Glance
23.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
66 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 85% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 85% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 85% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
31.2
Avg class size
5
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with South Petherton Junior School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near South Petherton Junior School.
- Hassockmoor Childcare & Out of School ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
- Hassockmoor Childcare & Out of School Club380m away · Not yet graded
- Hassockmoor Childcare & Out of School Club720m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to South Petherton Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. South Petherton Junior 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
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
5 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
146 pupils
150 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - South Petherton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for South Petherton
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.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
20.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
156
Total Pupils
65
Boys
91
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
17.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,557
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,576
Per pupil
£853k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
10.1%
Persistent absence
149
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about South Petherton Junior School
What are SATs results like at South Petherton Junior School?
Of the pupils at South Petherton Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 74% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is South Petherton Junior School's Ofsted rating?
South Petherton Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for South Petherton Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When South Petherton Junior 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 South Petherton Junior School?
South Petherton Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at South Petherton Junior School?
Classes at South Petherton Junior School average 31.2 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to South Petherton Junior School?
South Petherton Junior School has around 156 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at South Petherton Junior School?
5.1% of sessions were missed at South Petherton Junior School in 2024/25. 10.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to South Petherton Junior School?
Apply through Somerset's coordinated admissions process, naming South Petherton Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does South Petherton Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Hassockmoor Childcare & Out of School Club (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near South Petherton Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 5 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 South Petherton Junior School?
South Petherton Junior School is at Hayes End, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5AG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)