St Aldhelms Church School, Shepton Mallet

In its own words: "Children come to us from a variety of pre-schools and nurseries: Cranmore and Doulting Pre-School, First Steps Nursery, Next Steps Childcare Centre, Willow Nursery and Pre-School, Little Wellies in Wells, Pilton Pre-School, The Bush Day Nursery."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Aldhelm's Church School and Little Lambs Nursery. We serve the village communities of Doulting & Cranmore and the wider Shepton Mallet area. We offer education from 2 to 11 years old. We are an academy and part of the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cross-country, chess, cooking and forest school.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Aldhelms Church School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% 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, 24 families put St Aldhelms Church School as their first choice and 39 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 St Aldhelms Church School are St Paul's Church of England VC Junior School (1.7 miles, Good, 67% reading, 65% maths); Shepton Mallet Community Infants' School & Nursery (1.7 miles, Good); Bowlish Infant School (2.3 miles, Good); and Oakhill Church School (2.5 miles, Requires improvement, 84% reading, 58% maths).

St Aldhelms Church School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

St Aldhelms Church School is one of 46 schools run by The Bath and Wells Diocesan Academies Trust, an academy trust.

55 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Aldhelms Church School (as of September 2026): 91% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

12.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 30 pupils (17%) received SEN support and 3 (1.7%) 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.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Aldhelms Church School.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Lane (e-bound), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, burglary and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22).

In 2024/25, St Aldhelms Church School issued 1 suspension, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.