SchoolScoresRode Methodist VC First School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed · Methodist
High Street, Rode, Frome, BA11 6NZ
01373 830523 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 September 2017.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 13 March 2023: 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 18 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 17 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 44 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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.
This is a Methodist school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 20.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 8th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.0% | 12.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 100% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 28% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 12% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.1 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 3% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 6.4 | 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
- Beckington Church First School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Springmead Preparatory School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Norton St Philip CofE First School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Southwick CofE Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Berkley CofE First School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Rode Methodist VC First School's Ofsted rating?
Rode Methodist VC First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 September 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 13 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Rode Methodist VC First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put Rode Methodist VC First School as their first choice for 18 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 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 123823.
- 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.