Dunster First School
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 4-9 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | 13 St George's Street Dunster Minehead Somerset TA24 6RX |
| Reference Number | 123643 |
Dunster First School continues to be a good school, characterized by a strong sense of community and high expectations for pupil behavior and learning. Staff foster a caring environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The school's ambition is evident, particularly in its approach to reading with a structured phonics program that supports early literacy development. However, there are areas for improvement in curriculum implementation across subjects, and the school is working to better understand the impact of its curriculum on all pupils.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 103 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 53.4%
Girls: 46.6% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 18.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 3.9% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 25.8 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 25 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 27 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| 2 | 9 | 13 | 22 |
| 3 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 4 | 10 | 17 | 27 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 89.3% |
| White, Other | 5.8% |
| Unclassified | 2.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.9% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 26 Mar 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 26 Mar 2024 | School inspection |
| 12 Jun 2018 | Short inspection |
| 17 Sep 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 15 Jan 2013 | Interim assessment |
| 19 May 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 20 May 2002 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Strong sense of community and supportive environment.
- High expectations for pupil behavior.
- Effective phonics program for early reading.
- Pupils demonstrate positive attitudes to learning.
- Effective identification of SEND needs.
- Wide range of leadership opportunities for pupils.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum across subjects.
- Some teaching lacks precision leading to gaps in understanding.
- Insufficient subject expertise among some staff.
2025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 3 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 15 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Minehead Middle School
Ponsford Road, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5RH |
1.58 miles |
|
Minehead First School
Townsend Road, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5RG |
1.85 miles |
|
St Michael's Church of England First School
Watery Lane, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5NY |
2.18 miles |
|
Timberscombe Church of England First School
Timberscombe, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 7TY |
2.35 miles |
|
Old Cleeve Church of England First School
Huish Lane, Washford, Somerset, TA23 0PB |
3.93 miles |
|
Cutcombe Church of England First School
Wheddon Cross, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 7DZ |
4.98 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
West Somerset College
Bircham Road, Alcombe, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6AY |
1.11 miles |