Dunster First School

Somerset · TA24 6RX

General information Primary School · 4-9 years Who goes here 86 pupils, 14% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 8.1% on SEN support Behaviour 7.8% absence rate Staff 15.5% turnover Financials £10,325 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Dunster First School

General Information

Address: 13 St George's Street, Dunster, Minehead, TA24 6RX – View on map
Phone: 01643821254
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mr Paul James
Age range: 4-9 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 17 families put it first for 17 places – 10 for every 10 places. 94% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 10 · 2024 9 · 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

86 pupils out of 150 places Plenty of room

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 12
% eligible for free school meals: 14.0%
Pupil mix: 2 in 10 (similar to the Somerset average)
English as an additional language: 7% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 15.5% a year (Somerset 17.3%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 12% moved to another school, 88% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. This is a small staff, so one or two teachers leaving moves the figure a lot.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Somerset: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 2 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 5 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 1 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Somerset, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 7.8%
Persistently absent pupils: 18.4%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 8.1%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 0.0%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 4 pupils
Moderate learning difficulty: 2 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

–

Ability to Deal with Problems

–

Headteacher Approval

–

SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Year 6 SATs results for this school haven't been added yet.

View full Ofsted inspection report

37th of 152 primary schools in Somerset for Ofsted rating

#35Cutcombe Church of England First SchoolGood
#36Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First SchoolGood
#37Dunster First SchoolGood
#38East Brent Church of England First SchoolGood
#39East Coker Community Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Enmore Church of England Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Huish Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Kingfisher Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Preston CofE Primary SchoolOutstanding
#5Primrose Lane Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6All Saints Church SchoolGood
#7Ash Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#8Ashcott Primary SchoolGood
#9Ashill Community Primary SchoolGood
#10Avanti Park SchoolGood
#11Axbridge Church of England First School AcademyGood
#12Beech Grove Primary SchoolGood
#13Birchfield Community Primary SchoolGood
#14Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School, TauntonGood
#15Bishops Hull Primary SchoolGood
#16Bishops Lydeard Church SchoolGood
#17Blackbrook Primary SchoolGood
#18Brent Knoll Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#19Brookside Community Primary SchoolGood
#20Bruton Primary SchoolGood
#21Butleigh Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#22Cannington Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#23Castle Primary SchoolGood
#24Catcott Primary SchoolGood
#25Charlton Horethorne Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#26Charlton Mackrell CofE Primary SchoolGood
#27Cheddon Fitzpaine Church SchoolGood
#28Chewton Mendip Church of England VA Primary SchoolGood
#29Churchstanton Primary SchoolGood
#30Combe St Nicholas Church of England VA Primary SchoolGood
#31Cotford St Luke Primary SchoolGood
#32Countess Gytha Primary SchoolGood
#33Crowcombe CofE VA Primary SchoolGood
#34Curry Rivel Church of England VC Primary SchoolGood
#35Cutcombe Church of England First SchoolGood
#36Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First SchoolGood
#37Dunster First SchoolGood
#38East Brent Church of England First SchoolGood
#39East Coker Community Primary SchoolGood
#40East Huntspill Primary AcademyGood
#41Eastover Primary SchoolGood
#42Evercreech Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#43Exford Church of England First SchoolGood
#44Hambridge Community Primary SchoolGood
#45Hayesdown First SchoolGood
#46Hemington Primary SchoolGood
#47Herne View Church of England PrimaryGood
#48High Ham Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#49Hinton St George Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#50Holway Park Community Primary SchoolGood
#51Holy Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#52Horsington Church SchoolGood
#53Huish Episcopi Primary SchoolGood
#54Ilchester Community SchoolGood
#55Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary SchoolGood
#56Keinton Mandeville Primary SchoolGood
#57Kingsbury Episcopi Primary SchoolGood
#58Kingsmoor Primary SchoolGood
#59Langford Budville Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#60Leigh On Mendip SchoolGood
#61Long Sutton CofE Primary SchoolGood
#62Lympsham Church of England AcademyGood
#63Lyngford Park Primary SchoolGood
#64Manor Court Community Primary SchoolGood
#65Mark First and Pre-School CE AcademyGood
#66Martock Church SchoolGood
#67Meare Village Primary SchoolGood
#68Mells Church First SchoolGood
#69Merriott Primary SchoolGood
#70Middlezoy Primary SchoolGood
#71Milborne Port Primary SchoolGood
#72Milverton Community Primary School and Pre-SchoolGood
#73Minehead First SchoolGood
#74Nerrols Primary School and NurseryGood
#75Nether Stowey Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#76North Cadbury Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#77North Newton Community Primary SchoolGood
#78North Town AcademyGood
#79Norton Fitzwarren Church SchoolGood
#80Norton St Philip Church of England First SchoolGood
#81Nunney First SchoolGood
#82Oaklands Primary SchoolGood
#83Old Cleeve Church of England First SchoolGood
#84Othery Village SchoolGood
#85Otterhampton Primary SchoolGood
#86Parkfield Primary SchoolGood
#87Pawlett Primary School AcademyGood
#88Priddy Primary SchoolGood
#89Priorswood Primary SchoolGood
#90Puriton Primary SchoolGood
#91Rockwell Green Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#92Rode Methodist VC First SchoolGood
#93Ruishton Church of England SchoolGood
#94Sampford Arundel Community Primary SchoolGood
#95Shipham Church of England First SchoolGood
#96Somerset Bridge Primary SchoolGood
#97St Dubricius Church of England VA SchoolGood
#98St George's Catholic SchoolGood
#99St John and St Francis Church SchoolGood
#100St John's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#101St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, BridgwaterGood
#102St Lawrence's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#103St Louis Catholic Primary School, FromeGood
#104St Margaret's School, TintinhullGood
#105St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#106St Michael's Church of England First SchoolGood
#107St Nicholas CofE Primary School, HenstridgeGood
#108St Peter's Church of England First SchoolGood
#109St Vigor & St John Church SchoolGood
#110Staplegrove Church SchoolGood
#111Stawley Primary SchoolGood
#112Stoberry Park SchoolGood
#113Stogumber CofE Primary SchoolGood
#114Tatworth Primary SchoolGood
#115The Redstart Primary SchoolGood
#116Thurlbear Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#117Timberscombe Church of England First SchoolGood
#118Trinity Church of England First SchoolGood
#119Trull Church of England VA Primary SchoolGood
#120Vallis First SchoolGood
#121Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#122Weare Academy First SchoolGood
#123Wedmore First School AcademyGood
#124Wellsprings Primary SchoolGood
#125West Buckland Primary SchoolGood
#126West Coker CofE VC Primary SchoolGood
#127West Huntspill Primary AcademyGood
#128West Monkton Church of England SchoolGood
#129Westonzoyland Community Primary SchoolGood
#130Wincanton Primary SchoolGood
#131Winsham Primary SchoolGood
#132Wiveliscombe Primary SchoolGood
#133Woolavington Village Primary SchoolGood
#134Ashlands Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#135Baltonsborough Church of England VC Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#136Barwick and Stoford Community Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#137Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#138Castle Cary Community Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#139Croscombe Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#140Hatch Beauchamp Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#141Horrington Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#142Kilmersdon Church SchoolRequires improvement
#143King Ina Church of England AcademyRequires improvement
#144Minerva Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#145Norton Sub Hamdon Church SchoolRequires improvement
#146St Aldhelms Church SchoolRequires improvement
#147St Benedict's Catholic Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#148St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided First School, FromeRequires improvement
#149Stoke St Gregory Church of England Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#150Stoke St Michael Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#151Lovington Church of England Primary SchoolInadequate
#152West Chinnock Church SchoolInadequate

Financials

Spending per pupil: £10,325 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

26th of 185 primary schools in Somerset for spending per pupil

#24Orchard Grove Primary School£10,772
#25St Peter's Church of England First School£10,465
#26Dunster First School£10,325
#27Wookey Primary School£10,230
#28St Lawrence's CofE Primary School£10,136

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Middlezoy Primary School£36,875
#2Exford Church of England First School£31,923
#3Langford Budville Church of England Primary School£22,547
#4West Coker CofE VC Primary School£19,094
#5Timberscombe Church of England First School£15,964
#6Shepton Beauchamp Church School£14,042
#7Hatch Beauchamp Church of England Primary School£13,434
#8Lydeard St Lawrence Community Primary School£12,892
#9Lovington Church of England Primary School£12,828
#10Winsham Primary School£12,154
#11Christ Church First School£12,149
#12Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary£11,641
#13Stawley Primary School£11,600
#14Stoke St Michael Primary School£11,398
#15Stogursey Church of England Primary School£11,371
#16West Chinnock Church School£11,317
#17Curry Mallet Church of England Primary School£11,224
#18Cutcombe Church of England First School£11,088
#19Knights Templar Community Church School & Nursery£11,039
#20Sampford Arundel Community Primary School£11,013
#21Merriott Primary School£11,000
#22St Mary's & St Peter's Church School£10,789
#23Barwick and Stoford Community Primary School£10,779
#24Orchard Grove Primary School£10,772
#25St Peter's Church of England First School£10,465
#26Dunster First School£10,325
#27Wookey Primary School£10,230
#28St Lawrence's CofE Primary School£10,136
#29Spaxton CofE Primary School£9,979
#30Croscombe Church of England Primary School£9,850
#31East Brent Church of England First School£9,845
#32St Dubricius Church of England VA School£9,757
#33Crowcombe CofE VA Primary School£9,739
#34Shipham Church of England First School£9,288
#35Pawlett Primary School Academy£9,222
#36East Huntspill Primary Academy£9,185
#37Charlton Mackrell CofE Primary School£9,158
#38Buckland St Mary Church of England Primary School£9,025
#39Oake, Bradford and Nynehead VC Primary£9,000
#40St Nicholas CofE Primary School, Henstridge£8,883
#41Long Sutton CofE Primary School£8,870
#42Rode Methodist VC First School£8,853
#43Berkley Church of England First School£8,812
#44Minerva Primary School£8,761
#45Meare Village Primary School£8,683
#46West Huntspill Primary Academy£8,657
#47Holway Park Community Primary School£8,652
#48Curry Rivel Church of England VC Primary School£8,633
#49Hemington Primary School£8,561
#50Nunney First School£8,521
#51Wiveliscombe Primary School£8,502
#52Hinton St George Church of England Primary School£8,458
#53Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School£8,430
#54Berrow Primary Church Academy£8,399
#55Churchstanton Primary School£8,341
#56Coxley Primary School£8,336
#57Stoke St Gregory Church of England Primary School£8,279
#58Milverton Community Primary School and Pre-School£8,266
#59Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First School£8,043
#60Ashill Community Primary School£8,024
#61St Margaret's School, Tintinhull£8,015
#62Mells Church First School£7,966
#63Cannington Church of England Primary School£7,961
#64Vallis First School£7,959
#65Oaklands Primary School£7,913
#66St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided First School, Frome£7,890
#67Ashcott Primary School£7,806
#68North Newton Community Primary School£7,786
#69Woolavington Village Primary School£7,774
#70Rockwell Green Church of England Primary School£7,755
#71Kilmersdon Church School£7,697
#72Combe St Nicholas Church of England VA Primary School£7,641
#73Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School£7,612
#74Avishayes Community Primary School£7,565
#75Mark First and Pre-School CE Academy£7,455
#76St Vigor & St John Church School£7,421
#77Cotford St Luke Primary School£7,357
#78Catcott Primary School£7,351
#79Churchfield Church School£7,346
#80Herne View Church of England Primary£7,323
#81Beech Grove Primary School£7,315
#82Chewton Mendip Church of England VA Primary School£7,313
#83Bruton Primary School£7,304
#84Westover Green Community School and Autism Centre£7,289
#85Northgate Primary School£7,233
#86Birchfield Community Primary School£7,228
#87Castle Primary School£7,208
#88Norton Sub Hamdon Church School£7,200
#89Somerset Bridge Primary School£7,199
#90Horrington Primary School£7,175
#91Oakhill Church School£7,172
#92Ash Church of England Primary School£7,157
#93Chilthorne Domer Church School£7,151
#94Wellsprings Primary School£7,138
#95Keinton Mandeville Primary School£7,056
#96North Cadbury Church of England Primary School£7,051
#97Primrose Lane Primary School£7,051
#98St John's Church of England Primary School£7,043
#99Kingston St Mary Church of England Primary School£7,025
#100West Buckland Primary School£7,013
#101Lympsham Church of England Academy£7,000
#102Ashlands Church of England Primary School£6,982
#103North Curry CofE Primary School£6,910
#104St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School£6,865
#105Abbas and Templecombe Church School£6,856
#106Kingsmoor Primary School£6,828
#107Beckington Church First School£6,813
#108Nerrols Primary School and Nursery£6,812
#109Westonzoyland Community Primary School£6,752
#110Horsington Church School£6,742
#111All Saints Church School£6,734
#112St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School£6,723
#113Old Cleeve Church of England First School£6,713
#114Nether Stowey Church of England Primary School£6,685
#115Minehead First School£6,669
#116Eastover Primary School£6,663
#117Kingfisher Primary School£6,600
#118Countess Gytha Primary School£6,556
#119North Petherton Primary School£6,553
#120Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School£6,538
#121Huish Episcopi Primary School£6,520
#122East Coker Community Primary School£6,510
#123Hambridge Community Primary School£6,504
#124St Louis Catholic Primary School, Frome£6,484
#125Weare Academy First School£6,479
#126Creech St Michael Church of England Primary School£6,479
#127Bishops Hull Primary School£6,470
#128St Michael's Church of England First School£6,466
#129St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater£6,431
#130Wincanton Primary School£6,424
#131Tatworth Primary School£6,423
#132Thurlbear Church of England Primary School£6,406
#133Parkfield Primary School£6,397
#134Enmore Church of England Primary School£6,390
#135Bishops Lydeard Church School£6,386
#136Wellesley Park Primary School£6,368
#137Walton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,344
#138Cheddar First School£6,317
#139Castle Cary Community Primary School£6,299
#140Leigh On Mendip School£6,290
#141Othery Village School£6,277
#142Willowdown Primary School£6,251
#143Neroche Primary School£6,220
#144Lyngford Park Primary School£6,213
#145St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School£6,188
#146West Pennard Church of England Primary School£6,148
#147Axbridge Church of England First School Academy£6,144
#148Norton Fitzwarren Church School£6,126
#149Trull Church of England VA Primary School£6,124
#150Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School£6,104
#151Bishop Henderson Church of England Primary School, Taunton£6,102
#152King Ina Church of England Academy£6,084
#153Ruishton Church of England School£6,079
#154St James Church School£6,078
#155Priorswood Primary School£6,076
#156Wedmore First School Academy£6,006
#157St Joseph's Catholic Primary and Nursery School£5,954
#158Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School£5,941
#159Staplegrove Church School£5,922
#160St George's Catholic School£5,903
#161Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School£5,880
#162Puriton Primary School£5,879
#163Wembdon St George's Church School£5,841
#164High Ham Church of England Primary School£5,812
#165Trinity Church of England First School£5,792
#166Avanti Park School£5,788
#167Manor Court Community Primary School£5,788
#168St Aldhelms Church School£5,772
#169St John and St Francis Church School£5,743
#170St Andrew's Church School£5,653
#171North Town Academy£5,633
#172Hayesdown First School£5,609
#173St Gildas Catholic Primary School£5,575
#174West Monkton Church of England School£5,513
#175Preston CofE Primary School£5,511
#176Huish Primary School£5,387
#177Evercreech Church of England Primary School£5,248
#178The Redstart Primary School£5,244
#179Holy Trinity Church School£5,102
#180Blackbrook Primary School£5,004
#181Baltonsborough Church of England VC Primary School£4,662
#182Milborne Port Primary School£3,584
#183Stoberry Park School£2,952
#184Ilchester Community School£1,866
#185St Benedict's Catholic Primary School£1,732

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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