Shepton school wins Ofsted praise after dramatic turnaround

By Laura Linham 7th Apr 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 7th Apr 2026

Oakhill Church School near Shepton Mallet has won strong praise from Ofsted after inspectors hailed its leadership and inclusive culture — but warned results still have further to go.

The watchdog's report, following an inspection on 10 February 2026, paints a picture of a school on the up. Safeguarding standards were met, while inclusion and leadership and governance were judged to be at a strong standard.

Inspectors praised school leaders for driving what they described as a "highly inclusive" culture, with pupils' learning, development and life beyond school put at the centre of decision-making. Staff were also credited with spotting needs early and moving quickly when children needed extra help, particularly pupils with SEND.

There was more good news on behaviour. Ofsted said classrooms were calm, pupils got on well together and children trusted staff to deal with any concerns. Inspectors also said work to tackle absence was paying off, with persistent absence reduced as leaders worked closely with families to remove barriers to attendance.

Reading was singled out as a success story, with inspectors saying it is taught particularly well and phonics results have improved over time to above the national picture. Writing and maths have also been pushed up the agenda after weaker outcomes in previous years.

But the report was clear that the job is not done yet.

Achievement was listed as the area that still needs attention, with inspectors saying pupils have not done as well as they should in national tests and assessments over time. While recent improvements in reading and writing now bring the school into line with national outcomes, Ofsted said the impact of changes in maths is not yet showing in published results, even if it is visible in pupils' day-to-day learning.

Inspectors also highlighted strong early years provision, saying staff know children well, build solid relationships with families and prioritise communication, reading, writing and maths from the start. Personal development and wellbeing also came in for praise, with pupils encouraged to reflect, build resilience and understand their place in the wider world.