St John and St Francis Church School
Bridgwater, TA6 5BP · Somerset · primary school
Check the area around this school
87th of 156 primary schools in Somerset we can score, 219 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,379 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.9/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 56.0 · 30 | 40% | 1.20 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.78 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 5.0 · 40 | 25% | 1.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John and St Francis Church School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 5.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2022. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.9 out of 10 among them, against 3.4 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access gymnastics, dance, football, rugby, netball, archery, multi-sports, and choir. Sports include cross-country, caving, climbing, abseiling, canoeing, and stand up paddle boarding. Arts and music cover piano, ukulele, violin, and drumming. Trips visit the Bridgwater Singing Festival, Hinkley Point power station, and see Joseph and the Amazing Color Dreamcoat. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 421 pupils against a stated capacity of 436. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to bridge the gap between the 56.0% expected standard and the national median of 64%? What specific strategies are used to raise the 5.0% achieving
What Ofsted said about St John and St Francis Church School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils “learn to lead respectful lives” and benefit from a “well-designed” curriculum. Leaders have sustained a focus on curriculum development, resulting in strong outcomes for early readers and pupils with special educational needs. The inspection notes that since the previous rating of ‘Requires Improvement’, leaders have improved the school in many respects, fostering a positive culture based on Christian values.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate high standards of behaviour, treating one another with “understanding and forgiveness” while bullying is “rare”.
- The curriculum is “well-designed” with subject leaders having “thought carefully” about learning objectives, particularly in early reading and phonics.
- Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs, ensuring they learn the “same detailed knowledge as everyone else”.
- Leaders prioritise communication skills, helping pupils build a “rich vocabulary” and communicate “confidently”.
- Governors and leaders work together effectively, with governors knowing the school, its curriculum, and staff “well”.
Areas to improve
- Teachers do not always check pupils’ understanding “systematically enough”, leading to some pupils having “gaps in their knowledge” and misconceptions.
- Some pupils do not fully understand important concepts in personal, social and health education (PSHE), which hinders future learning on these themes.
- Some children miss essential curriculum content because they “do not attend school as well as they could”.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that leaders are “quick to identify families who could benefit from early help” and have responded “robustly” to Ofsted’s review into sexual abuse, violence and harassment.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 61% |
| 2023/24 | 63% |
| 2024/25 | 56% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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