Christ Church First School

Christ Church First School is performing well overall, demonstrating a strong commitment to providing quality education and support for its students. With a positive culture of safeguarding and a curriculum that aims to be both ambitious and enriching, the school is steadily improving its overall outcomes, particularly in reading and phonics. Notably, the school's leaders have shown relentless dedication to enhancing life chances for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged. However, there are areas requiring attention, particularly related to ensuring that all pupils consistently secure their foundational knowledge and skills across the curriculum.

Strengths

• Pupils generally progress well through the curriculum.
• Strong emphasis on safeguarding, making pupils feel safe.
• Ambitious curriculum that promotes enrichment and enthusiasm for learning.
• Effective support and training for staff to manage behavior.
• Positive relationships between staff, pupils, and families.
• Improved outcomes in phonics screening.
• Excellent pastoral support that benefits social and emotional wellbeing.

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils struggle to retain knowledge over time.
• Inconsistent opportunities for pupils to practice essential skills.
• Some staff do not always engage children in high-quality conversations.

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 Christ Church First School attended 92.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 23.0% 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, 7.5% of pupils at Christ Church 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 Christ Church First School had 12.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 40.0% 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, 31.9% of pupils at Christ Church First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.5% 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 Christ Church First School received £11,958 and spent £12,772 for each of its 67 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £161,000 (£2,400 per pupil).

Across all 45 schools of The Bath and Wells Diocesan Academies Trust, income was £7,160 and spending £7,193 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 Frome · Somerset local authority: places and applications

Christ Church First School is part of The Bath and Wells Diocesan Academies Trust, which runs 46 schools. The nearest others:

• Beckington Church First School Frome
• Mells Church First School Frome
• Kilmersdon Church School Radstock
• St Nicholas Church School Radstock
• Freshford Church School Bath
• St Vigor & St John Church School Radstock
• St Aldhelms Church School Shepton Mallet
• Oakhill Church School Radstock
• Bathwick St Mary Church School Bath
• St Michaels Junior Church School Bath

What is Christ Church First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Christ Church First School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was Christ Church First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Christ Church First School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does Christ Church First School have?

Christ Church First School has 47 pupils on roll.

What age range does Christ Church First School cover?

Christ Church First School for pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Christ Church First School?

Christ Church First School is at Feltham Lane, Frome, Somerset, BA11 5AJ.