SchoolScoresSt Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Oakfield Road, Bridgwater, TA6 7LX
01278 422691 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 October 2019.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
112 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bridgwater comparisons use the 10 of its 28 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 18 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 | Bridgwater | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 19% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 30 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 61% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 85 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 22 parents of children with SEND 9th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Somerset. Higher than 39% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bridgwater. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 24%). 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. Bridgwater figures pool parents at the Bridgwater 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
61 pupils in this year group.
72% — 15 points above the Somerset average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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 | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 63 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 101 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
This is a Church of England 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 26th highest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 20.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 24th highest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 12.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 14th highest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Lower than 78% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Lower than 83% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.5 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 27 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 96% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.4 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 12th highest of 28 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.4 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 18th highest of 22 state primary schools in Bridgwater. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wembdon St George's Church School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westover Green Community School and Autism Centre 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hamp Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hamp Nursery and Infants' School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Northgate Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eastover Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Somerset Bridge Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John and St Francis Church School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- North Petherton Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 October 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School?
88% of the 112 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 63 families put St Mary's Voluntary Controlled CofE Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 59 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 123784.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.