Ofsted: Requires improvement

Danesfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Community Middle School

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

personMr David McGrath

corporate_fareBEACON EDUCATION MAT LTD

location_onTaunton, TA4 4SW

language Visit Website phone 1984632581

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

352

school

Expected Standard

27%

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Age Range

9-13

summarize

Danesfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Community Middle School is a Academy converter secondary school in Taunton, serving ages 9-13. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Danesfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Community Middle School is an academy converter in Taunton, Somerset, admitting pupils aged 9-13. It is part of BEACON EDUCATION MAT LTD. The school has approximately 349 pupils on roll, of whom 36% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 27% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #148 of 157 primaries in Somerset and #14,254 of 15,231 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 27.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.3 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

27%

LA 57%

Reading54% LA 72%

Writing40% LA 69%

Maths46% LA 69%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

17%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading54% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing20% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths48% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading60% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing62% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths55% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.5

Read

LA -0.5

-3.7 to -1.3

-1.2

Write

LA -0.4

-2.3 to 0.0

-2.9

Maths

LA -1.4

-4.1 to -1.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading66% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing75% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths73% LA 73% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.2

Read

LA -0.8

-1.3 to 1.6

-1.0

Write

LA -0.4

-2.3 to 0.3

-1.2

Maths

LA -1.4

-2.5 to 0.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

47%

LA 63%

Reading66% LA 77%

Writing77% LA 78%

Maths66% LA 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.6

Read

LA -0.2

-2 to 0.8

1.2

Write

LA -0.3

-0.1 to 2.5

-0.3

Maths

LA -1.0

-1.6 to 1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

11 December 2024

Inspection Report

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20 June 2023

Inspection Report

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22 June 2021

Inspection Report

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02 March 2021

Inspection Report

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21 May 2019

Inspection Report

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10 January 2017

Inspection Report

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06 March 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-20

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-05-21

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-01-10

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2011-09-13

None Legacy

Good

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

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

3.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.3%(8 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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 349 pupils. During this period, there were 13 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	349	13	3.7%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	347	3	0.9%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	371	22	5.9%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	368	17	4.6%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	365	36	9.9%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	350	44	12.6%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	352	36	10.2%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	353	36	10.2%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	365	17	4.7%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	363	10	2.8%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	365	8	2.2%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	328	12	3.7%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	326	5	1.5%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	325	8	2.5%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	323	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	323	8	2.5%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	320	9	2.8%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	319	8	2.5%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	318	5	1.6%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	318	15	4.7%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	294	4	1.4%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	292	3	1.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	294	4	1.4%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	289	4	1.4%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	295	3	1.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	295	0	0.0%	3.1%

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

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psychology_alt

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 26 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 14 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 7 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 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.

57.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

56.0%Positive

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

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree6%

agree28%

disagree28%

strongly disagree34%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree6%

agree29%

disagree37%

strongly disagree24%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree12%

agree25%

disagree24%

strongly disagree29%

don't know1%

not applicable9%

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

yes26%

no74%

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

agree28%

disagree28%

strongly disagree44%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree9%

agree43%

disagree28%

strongly disagree4%

don't know16%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree12%

agree46%

disagree22%

strongly disagree15%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree12%

agree38%

disagree35%

strongly disagree9%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree16%

agree65%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree41%

agree50%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree16%

agree32%

disagree31%

strongly disagree16%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes46%

no54%

Top Secondary Schools in Somerset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

The Castle School

Outstanding

location_on Taunton, TA1 5AU

emoji_events #1 in LA

Sexey's School

Good

location_on Bruton, BA10 0DF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Huish Episcopi Academy

Inadequate

location_on LANGPORT, TA10 9SS

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Blue School

Good

location_on Wells, BA5 2NR

emoji_events #4 in LA

Haygrove School

Good

location_on Bridgwater, TA6 7HW

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Kings of Wessex Academy

Good

location_on Cheddar, BS27 3AQ

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

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 Secondary Schools in Somerset

The Castle School

Sexey's School

Huish Episcopi Academy

The Blue School

Haygrove School

The Kings of Wessex Academy