Sandford Primary School

Sandford Primary School has achieved a good overall effectiveness rating in its first inspection under the new framework since joining the Wessex Learning Trust. The school demonstrates positive relationships, with pupils feeling safe and engaged in their learning. The curriculum is ambitious and well-implemented, catering effectively to all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). While the school provides a nurturing environment and has robust systems to support pupils, there are some areas of variance in curriculum implementation across subjects, which needs attention to ensure consistency in learning outcomes. The school is noted for its broad and well-sequenced curriculum that helps pupils build cumulative knowledge. The staff are well-supported by leadership and the trust, contributing to staff’s effective handling of behaviour issues and promoting a positive school culture. Enrichment opportunities engage pupils in a variety of experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. Overall, Sandford Primary School provides a caring and motivating educational experience for its pupils.

Strengths

• Positive relationships foster a happy and safe school environment.
• The curriculum is broad and ambitious, supporting all pupils effectively.
• There are well-considered enrichment opportunities for students.
• Effective adaptations for pupils with SEND enhance learning.
• Staff are well-supported and knowledgeable, contributing to good teaching practices.
• Governance is strong, providing effective oversight and support.

Areas for Improvement

• Variable quality in curriculum implementation across different 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 Sandford Primary School attended 95.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.8% 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, 2.8% of pupils at Sandford 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 Sandford Primary School had 24.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.6% 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, 9.2% of pupils at Sandford Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.1% 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 2024–25 Sandford Primary School received £6,961 and spent £6,804 for each of its 141 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £117,000 (£828 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 North Somerset · North Somerset local authority: places and applications

Sandford Primary School is part of Wessex Learning Trust, which runs 23 schools. The nearest others:

• Winscombe Primary School Winscombe
• Shipham Church of England First School Winscombe
• Axbridge Church of England First School Academy Axbridge
• Weare Academy First School Axbridge
• Cheddar First School Cheddar
• The Kings of Wessex Academy Cheddar
• Fairlands Middle School Cheddar
• Kewstoke Primary School Weston-Super-Mare
• Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First School Draycott
• Lympsham Church of England Academy Weston-Super-Mare

What is Sandford Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sandford Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was Sandford Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sandford Primary School was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does Sandford Primary School have?

Sandford Primary School has 131 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sandford Primary School cover?

Sandford Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Sandford Primary School?

Sandford Primary School is at 49 Greenhill Road, Sandford, Winscombe, Somerset, BS25 5PA.