Coxley Primary School Review 2026: Small village primary with wraparound care and strong community links

In practice, for a small primary, day-to-day academic quality is often best judged through curriculum clarity, reading and phonics approach, and how teaching is adapted across mixed-age classes. Coxley publishes curriculum information and sets out its approach in the school prospectus: it follows the national curriculum and early years framework, and describes whole-school topics used across subjects to build knowledge over a term.

The inspection context matters for interpreting results and progress. The 11 July 2023 Ofsted inspection judged the school Requires Improvement overall, with separate grades that include Good for behaviour and attitudes and Good for personal development.

Mixed-age teaching is central here, because the school is organised into classes that span multiple year groups. The prospectus describes a structure that groups Reception to Year 2 together, Years 3 and 4 together, and Years 5 and 6 together, with teachers adapting content and outcomes to meet differing needs within the same room. This can suit pupils who benefit from revisiting concepts at different depths, and it can also be supportive socially, because younger pupils see older role models daily.

Curriculum breadth is described in conventional terms, with English, mathematics, science, computing, and the foundation subjects, plus religious education and a modern foreign language for Key Stage 2. The prospectus also describes assessment and feedback as ongoing and designed to help pupils understand next steps, alongside regular reporting to families.

Reading, writing, and phonics are flagged in the school’s site navigation as dedicated areas, which usually indicates a school is trying to make its approach visible to parents rather than treating it as internal-only practice.

For most families, transition at the end of Year 6 is the key pathway question. Coxley states that most pupils transfer to The Blue School in Wells after Year 6. This is useful clarity for parents who want a straightforward local route rather than needing to map multiple secondary destinations.

The school also describes being part of the Wells Community Learning Partnership, working with other local schools on shared initiatives and to support a smooth move to secondary. In a small primary, that kind of partnership can broaden opportunities and help pupils feel less like they are moving from a small bubble into a much larger environment in Year 7.

Coxley is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Reception entry is coordinated through the local authority route for starting school.

On demand, the most recent admissions figures provided for this review suggest the school is oversubscribed for the relevant entry route, with 18 applications and 10 offers recorded, which equates to around 1.8 applications per place. That is not the kind of intense competition seen in some urban schools, but in a small village setting it can still mean places are not guaranteed, particularly for families applying from outside the immediate area. )

For September 2026 starting school applications in Somerset, the local authority timeline is clearly published: applications open 29 September 2025, close 15 January 2026, and offer outcomes are issued 16 April 2026.

The school also indicates that families considering a place can arrange an informal discussion or visit, which is often the most useful way to understand how mixed-age classes operate in practice and whether the size feels right for your child.

Helpful tool: if you are shortlisting multiple small primaries around Wells, use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison to keep admissions demand and inspection context side-by-side, rather than relying on memory between open events.

Safeguarding leadership is clearly signposted. The headteacher is named as Designated Safeguarding Lead on the school’s published staff information.

The prospectus frames safeguarding as a whole-community responsibility and references working in partnership with the local authority and relevant multi-agency partners, with staff training described as regular.

Wellbeing also shows up in the club offer. Alongside sport and music, the school has run a Wellbeing Club and a lunchtime “Choose-Day” club aimed at providing calm, quieter activities and a space to talk with a familiar adult. In a small school, these low-key supports can be particularly effective because children are already known well, and staff can spot changes in mood or friendship patterns quickly.

For a small primary, Coxley publishes a surprisingly specific clubs offer, which helps parents understand what is genuinely available rather than relying on generic claims.

Examples from a recent clubs programme include:

• Samba Club, with pupils learning Latin rhythms and working towards a live performance as part of a local music event.

• Forest School Club, using outdoor activities and a campfire element that signals a practical, nature-based approach rather than indoor-only enrichment.

• Choir, including opportunities to perform at services and events during the year.

• Rounders and Games Club led by a sports coach, giving structured activity after school.

The prospectus also describes broader arts and community-linked opportunities, including participation in a Christmas carol service at Wells Cathedral School and involvement in a summer Music Spectacular at Strode Theatre, plus a folk dance tradition linked to the Somerset Folk Dance Festival at Wells Cathedral. These named experiences can matter for families who want performance opportunities without needing a larger school to provide them.

The published school day is clear: doors open at 8:40am, morning session starts 8:50am, and the day finishes at 3:20pm.

Wraparound care is also detailed. Breakfast provision is available from 8:00am, and after-school provision is available with sessions running to 4:30pm or 5:30pm depending on what families book.

On transport and geography, the school describes being on the A39 and around two and a half miles from Wells and Glastonbury, which is helpful context for driving routes and bus planning.

• Inspection context. The latest overall judgement is Requires Improvement, with some areas graded Good. Families should focus questions on what has changed since July 2023, particularly in the areas graded Requires Improvement.

• Small-school realities. Mixed-age classes can be a strong fit, but they are not for every child. Ask how stretch and support are handled when pupils in the same room are working across different year expectations.

• Oversubscription at a small capacity. Even modest numbers can create competition when there are limited places. With 18 applications and 10 offers recorded for the relevant entry route, early planning matters.

• Wraparound structures change over time. The school publishes wraparound arrangements and providers; confirm the current pattern and availability for your child’s year group before relying on specific sessions.

Coxley Primary School suits families who value a small, village setting where pupils are known well, outdoor space is actively used, and clubs are specific rather than token. The day-to-day structure is clearly published, and wraparound care is a practical plus for working parents. Best suited to children who thrive in mixed-age groupings and families comfortable engaging with a school in an improvement phase following a Requires Improvement inspection outcome.