Weare Academy First School

Weare Academy First has shown overall good performance in its first inspection since becoming an academy. The school prides itself on a supportive and inclusive culture, where both pupils and parents express satisfaction with the quality of education and care. High expectations from leaders result in an engaging learning environment, with effective pastoral support helping students thrive academically and personally. Furthermore, strong relationships among staff and students contribute to a positive atmosphere, where safety and well-being are prioritized.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• High expectations for pupil achievement
• Excellent pastoral support for pupils and families
• Inclusive, ambitious curriculum tailored to pupils' needs
• Effective early reading programs and training for staff

Areas for Improvement

• Middle leaders lack opportunities to monitor their areas effectively
• Assessment practices not yet consistently established across all subjects

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 Weare Academy First School attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 1.9% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Weare Academy 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 Weare Academy First School had 23.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% 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, 12.1% of pupils at Weare Academy First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.0% 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 2024–25 Weare Academy First School received £7,093 and spent £6,736 for each of its 142 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £47,000 (-£331 per pupil).

Across all 22 schools of Wessex Learning Trust, income was £7,524 and spending £7,371 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Weare Academy First School is part of Wessex Learning Trust, which runs 23 schools. The nearest others:

• Axbridge Church of England First School Academy Axbridge
• Cheddar First School Cheddar
• The Kings of Wessex Academy Cheddar
• Winscombe Primary School Winscombe
• Fairlands Middle School Cheddar
• Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School Wedmore
• Wedmore First School Academy Wedmore
• Shipham Church of England First School Winscombe
• East Brent Church of England First School Highbridge
• Sandford Primary School Winscombe

What is Weare Academy First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Weare Academy First School is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.

When was Weare Academy First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Weare Academy First School was last inspected in February 2023.

How many pupils does Weare Academy First School have?

Weare Academy First School has 149 pupils on roll.

What age range does Weare Academy First School cover?

Weare Academy First School for pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Weare Academy First School?

Weare Academy First School is at Notting Hill Way, Weare, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2JS.