Would you like to drive, or maybe even build, a steam train?
By Emma Dance 22nd Sep 2022
The East Somerset Society of Model & Experimental Engineers (ESSMEE), which created the Bath and West Steam Railway, is looking for more members.
A spokesman for the club, which is based at the Bath and West Showground, said: "If you are retired, like trains, always wanted to drive a steam locomotive, or just want to get involved in a busy exciting club then now is your chance.
"This invite is for anyone who is interested whether young or retired to see what we do.
"We have projects planned including building from scratch a Black 5 loco, a possible railway line extention, and more.
"We have held a number of training days this year and plan more next year if you want to drive a steam train.
"We are local to you and would like to increase our membership.
"You are welcome to a cup of tea or coffee and a tour of the club."
Find out more on the website www.essmee.org.uk or email [email protected]
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Inspectors also found that teaching, achievement and leadership still need attention.](https://nub.news/api/image/782421/category.jpeg "### Preflight checklist * Shepton Mallet front-loaded in headline: ✓ * Whitstone School correctly identified from the inspection report: ✓ * Inspection date of 6 May 2026 included: ✓ * New Ofsted report-card terminology used rather than an overall grade: ✓ * Safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, inclusion and wellbeing positives included: ✓ * Achievement, teaching and leadership concerns reported clearly: ✓ * Headteacher Matthew Pike named: ✓ * No unsupported school response invented: ✓ * No citations in article body: ✓ * Latest Shepton Mallet Nub News links checked on the live site: ✓ # Shepton Mallet school praised but teaching needs attention **Strapline:** Ofsted praised behaviour, inclusion and pastoral care at Whitstone, but found weaknesses in teaching and achievement. **Standfirst:** Shepton Mallet’s Whitstone School has been praised for pupils’ behaviour and wellbeing in a new Ofsted inspection, while teaching, achievement and leadership were judged to need attention. **SEO title:** Shepton Mallet Whitstone School: latest Ofsted findings **Meta description:** Ofsted has praised behaviour and pastoral care at Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet, while finding teaching and achievement still need attention. Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet has been praised for its pupils’ behaviour, pastoral care and increasingly strong attendance — but inspectors say teaching and achievement still need attention. Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the Charlton Road secondary school on **6 May 2026**, under its new report-card system, which assesses different areas of school life separately rather than giving one overall grade. Safeguarding standards were met, while **attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing** were all judged to meet the expected standard. However, **achievement, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance** were rated as needing attention. Inspectors said pupils are generally friendly, respectful and supportive of one another, with most showing positive attitudes towards school. They found that staff build warm relationships with pupils and provide effective pastoral care, while bullying is rare and pupils are confident that staff will deal with concerns quickly. Attendance has also improved, including among disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities. Ofsted said leaders had taken action to improve both attendance and behaviour, with suspensions falling significantly as a result. The report also highlighted increased support for pupils with wellbeing or additional needs, while inspectors praised the school’s wider personal development programme. Pupils are offered activities including sports clubs, music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, educational trips and international visits, alongside careers events and opportunities to work with employers. Inspectors said barriers to participation are removed for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND where possible. There were also positive findings around inclusion, with staff said to have a secure understanding of the needs of disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and those known to social care. The school’s **Horizons Plus** programme was singled out as an example of work designed to broaden pupils’ experiences and ambitions through talks, visits and preparation for life beyond school. But inspectors raised concerns about pupils’ academic achievement. The report says attainment is below national averages and that a significant minority of pupils have gaps in their learning, including some with SEND. Some pupils were found to have gaps in basic literacy and numeracy which were not always identified or addressed early or precisely enough. Inspectors said this meant some pupils did not achieve as well as they could and were not always sufficiently prepared for their next steps in education, employment or training. Teaching was also described as inconsistent. While pupils generally follow a broad and ambitious curriculum, inspectors found that some staff did not identify gaps in knowledge or adapt teaching effectively enough to meet pupils’ needs. In some subjects, pupils were also not being given enough opportunity to write in depth, limiting their ability to apply and develop their knowledge. Ofsted said school leaders understand that improvements are needed to teaching and have introduced professional learning for staff, although that work remains at an early stage. Leadership and governance was another area judged to need attention. Inspectors said leaders had a broad understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses, but that their assessment of teaching quality and achievement was not always precise enough. That had contributed to some improvements being made too slowly. Trustees were found to understand their statutory responsibilities, but inspectors said their challenge and support of school leaders had not always been robust enough. There were, however, positive findings about staff morale, with employees telling inspectors they felt valued, supported and proud to work at Whitstone. The report also noted that leaders and trustees had begun building stronger relationships with parents and the wider Shepton Mallet community. Whitstone is an academy for pupils aged 11 to 16 and is led by headteacher **Matthew Pike**, who took up the role in September 2025. The inspection was led by His Majesty’s Inspector Sarah Wilson, supported by three other inspectors. 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