SchoolScoresThurlbear CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Thurlbear, Taunton, TA3 5BW
01823 442277 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 November 2013.
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 | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 2 May 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
88 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Taunton comparisons use the 19 of its 39 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 20 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 | Taunton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 8th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 7th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 88% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 21 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 61 parents who had raised a concern Joint 5th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 82% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 85% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Taunton. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 91% | 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. Taunton figures pool parents at the Taunton 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
29 pupils in this year group.
76% — 19 points above the Somerset average, and 14 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 76% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 36 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 58 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.2
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 36th highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.4% | 20.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 22nd highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 12.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 36th highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 5.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Lower than 95% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 34th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Lower than 14% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.4 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 30th lowest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. 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 Joint 9th highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 90% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.8 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 16th highest of 39 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 31 state primary schools in Taunton. Higher than 41% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 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
- Ruishton CofE School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holway Park Community Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2025 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blackbrook Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hatch Beauchamp CofE Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion)
- Minerva Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St George's Catholic School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thurlbear CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thurlbear CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 November 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 2 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did Thurlbear CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 14 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Thurlbear CofE Primary School?
98% of the 88 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Thurlbear CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thurlbear CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 36 families put Thurlbear CofE Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 28 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 123849.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.