Rode Methodist VC First School

Rode Methodist VC First School continues to perform well, maintaining its status as a good school. The leadership team has established a strong, ambitious curriculum that enables students to thrive academically and personally. Pupils display a love for learning, engaging actively in their studies, and exhibit commendable behavior and support for one another. Although the school has successfully nurtured a positive environment, it has faced challenges in developing a clear, consistent understanding of essential knowledge across all subjects, and there are opportunities for improvement in teaching cultural diversity. The inspection marked the school's first ungraded evaluation since it was last rated good in 2017, coming after significant changes in leadership. The commitment to high expectations and nurturing relationships contributes to pupils' overall well-being, yet leaders are aware of the need to clarify the curriculum in specific areas to enhance learning outcomes further. This willingness to address shortcomings underscores the school's dedication to continuous improvement.

Strengths

• Curriculum is ambitious and well-considered.
• Pupils are enthusiastic and committed to learning.
• Strong behavior expectations lead to a positive school environment.
• Excellent relationships between staff and pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND.
• Well-structured reading curriculum fosters enthusiasm for reading.
• Rich extra-curricular opportunities that enhance learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Essential knowledge not clearly identified across all subjects.
• Curriculum lacks focus on cultural diversity.

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 Rode Methodist VC First School attended 96.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 0.0% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Rode Methodist VC First 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 Rode Methodist VC First School had 16.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 13.3% of pupils at Rode Methodist VC First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.3% 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 2025–26 Rode Methodist VC First School received £9,158 and spent £8,966 for each of its 130 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £260,000 (£2,003 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). This school files a single return with the other schools in its federation, so the figures are for the whole federation.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Frome · Somerset local authority: places and applications

What is Rode Methodist VC First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rode Methodist VC First School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Rode Methodist VC First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rode Methodist VC First School was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Rode Methodist VC First School have?

Rode Methodist VC First School has 75 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rode Methodist VC First School cover?

Rode Methodist VC First School for pupils aged 4 to 9.

Where is Rode Methodist VC First School?

Rode Methodist VC First School is at High Street, Rode, Frome, Somerset, BA11 6NZ.