SchoolScoresBowlish Infant School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 7 · Mixed
Bowlish, Wells Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5JQ
01749 342514 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 2012.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 April 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Somerset. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 39 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 44 |
| Of those, offered a place | 38 (86%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 59 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.3% | 20.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 12.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.8% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.2% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.5% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Lower than 5% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Lower than 1% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 8.0% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.8 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Shepton Mallet. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Nearby primary schools
- Shepton Mallet Community Infants' School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024
- St Paul's CofE VC Junior School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Croscombe CofE Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- St Aldhelms Church School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2021, before conversion) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakhill Church School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bowlish Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Bowlish Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 April 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Bowlish Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 44 families put Bowlish Infant School as their first choice for 39 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 38 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 123672.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.