A small village school near Shepton Mallet is celebrating strong results after the latest Ofsted data showed pupils outperforming national averages in key subjects.

Ditcheat Primary School, in Ditcheat near Shepton Mallet, achieved results above the national picture in maths and reading, according to figures published on 6 January 2026.

In 2024/25, 90 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in mathematics, compared with 74 per cent nationally. Reading results were even higher, with 100 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard against a national average of 75 per cent.

Writing was also ahead of the national figure, with 80 per cent reaching the expected level, compared with 72 per cent across England.

Overall, 80 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the national average of 62 per cent.

Small school in Mendip

Ditcheat Primary currently has 79 pupils on roll, although inspectors confirmed there were 89 pupils at the time of the inspection. That is significantly smaller than the national average of 272 pupils for similar schools.

Over a three-year average, the school remains above national levels in reading and maths, and close to average in writing.

Disadvantaged pupils have also performed strongly over time, with 57 per cent reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined over the latest three-year average, compared with 46 per cent nationally. Some individual year data has been suppressed due to small pupil numbers.

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The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 11.39 per cent, below the national average of 26.3 per cent. Pupils with special educational needs are also below national levels.

Attendance below national average

Attendance figures also compare favourably. Overall absence for 2024/25 (two terms) was 4.4 per cent, below the national average of 5.2 per cent.

The inspection was led by His Majesty's Inspector Lakmini Harkus, supported by Ofsted Inspector Jyotsna Paranjape. Inspectors met with school leaders, governors and a representative from the local authority.

The school operates a before- and after-school club and does not use alternative provision.

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