Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #67 in Somerset public Top 42% UK

Combe St Nicholas Church of England VA Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Christine Maxwell

location_onChard, TA20 3NG

language Visit Website phone 146063116

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

school

Expected Standard

67%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Combe St Nicholas Church of England VA Primary School is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Chard, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 42% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Combe St Nicholas Church of England VA Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Chard, Somerset, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 102 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 11% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #67 of 148 primaries in Somerset and #8,374 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 22.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 57%

Reading67% LA 72%

Writing78% LA 69%

Maths67% LA 69%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

100%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading100% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing100% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths100% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading88% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing88% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths75% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -0.5

-5.7 to 3.0

1.7

Write

LA -0.4

-2.5 to 5.8

-1.0

Maths

LA -1.4

-5.1 to 3.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading93% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing93% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths80% LA 73% · Eng 79%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.1

Read

LA -0.8

0.9 to 7.4

3.0

Write

LA -0.4

0.1 to 6.0

-1.1

Maths

LA -1.4

-3.9 to 1.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 63%

Reading92% LA 77%

Writing92% LA 78%

Maths77% LA 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.4

Read

LA -0.2

-3 to 3.8

1.7

Write

LA -0.3

-1.5 to 4.9

-0.3

Maths

LA -1.0

-3.4 to 2.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 September 2022

Inspection Report

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09 May 2017

Inspection Report

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26 September 2012

Inspection Report

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18 November 2009

Inspection Report

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05 October 2006

Inspection Report

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04 June 2001

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-05-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-09-26

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2009-11-18

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.0%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 102 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.9%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	102	3	2.9%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	101	1	1.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	96	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	96	1	1.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	96	1	1.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	90	1	1.1%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	92	2	2.2%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	97	1	1.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	102	1	1.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	104	1	1.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	103	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	97	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	94	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	96	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	108	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	108	2	1.9%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	113	2	1.8%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	119	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	119	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	118	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	117	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	122	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	123	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	115	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	116	8	6.9%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	117	2	1.7%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 4 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree35%

disagree7%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree53%

agree37%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree53%

agree26%

disagree9%

don't know2%

not applicable9%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree37%

disagree5%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree58%

agree35%

disagree2%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree44%

agree44%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree42%

don't know9%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree42%

disagree2%

don't know9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree51%

agree37%

disagree9%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Primary Schools in Somerset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Good

location_on Street, BA16 9LA

emoji_events #1 in LA

Preston CofE Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Yeovil, BA21 3SN

emoji_events #2 in LA

Northgate Primary School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 3EU

emoji_events #3 in LA

St. Michael's Academy

Good

location_on Yeovil, BA21 4JW

emoji_events #4 in LA

Manor Court Community Primary School

Good

location_on Chard, TA20 2ES

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 7LX

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Somerset arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Somerset

Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Preston CofE Primary School

Northgate Primary School

St. Michael's Academy

Manor Court Community Primary School

St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School