Ditcheat Primary School

Ditcheat Primary School is performing well overall, with pupils achieving close to national averages in reading, writing, and mathematics. The school's dedication to creating a nurturing and safe environment is evident, as pupils feel secure and supported, which fosters a positive attitude towards learning. Leaders have focused on enhancing the curriculum and the quality of teaching. Notably, the school has implemented effective strategies to ensure that pupils, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, receive the support they need to succeed in their education. However, there are areas that require attention to further improve writing fluency among younger pupils and to ensure teachers effectively check for understanding in lessons.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve close to national averages in tests and examinations.
• Strong focus on developing pupils' writing skills and their writer's voice.
• Effective safeguarding practices creating a safe and open culture.
• Ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that prepares pupils for secondary school.
• High-quality professional development for staff enhancing teaching practice.
• Inclusive support for pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Positive relationships fostered between staff and pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Younger pupils struggle to form letters correctly and do not hold a pencil correctly.
• Teachers do not consistently check for understanding, leaving some misconceptions unaddressed.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ditcheat Primary School attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.3% of pupils at Ditcheat Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ditcheat Primary School had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 36.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 6.7% of pupils at Ditcheat Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2022–23 Ditcheat Primary School received £6,591 and spent £6,971 for each of its 93 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £23,000 (£248 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Shepton Mallet · Somerset local authority: places and applications

What is Ditcheat Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ditcheat Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was Ditcheat Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ditcheat Primary School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does Ditcheat Primary School have?

Ditcheat Primary School has 89 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ditcheat Primary School cover?

Ditcheat Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Ditcheat Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ditcheat Primary School?

Ditcheat Primary School is at Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RB.