SchoolScoresSt John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England
Christchurch Street East, Frome, BA11 1QG
01373 462251 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 23 April 2024.
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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Frome comparisons use the 8 of its 12 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Frome | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 6th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 6th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 31% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 33 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 30% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 83% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Frome. Higher than 32% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Frome figures pool parents at the Frome schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
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 | 25 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 24 |
| Of those, offered a place | 24 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 45 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.8% | 20.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 12.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.9% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 24.6% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 12th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 2% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 16.9 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.0% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.1 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 12 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 39% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.1 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools in Frome. Higher than 61% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 16.0% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
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; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Avanti Park School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Vallis First School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- St Louis Catholic Primary School, Frome 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church First School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Hayesdown First School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
- Trinity CofE First School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Berkley CofE First School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Springmead Preparatory School 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Beckington Church First School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Chapmanslade CofE Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome's Ofsted rating?
St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2024.
Would parents recommend St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome?
86% of the 51 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 24 families put St John's CofE Voluntary Aided First School, Frome as their first choice for 25 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 24 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 123843.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.