A PRIMARY school in Bridgwater is making progress towards being deemed outstanding, according to a recent Ofsted inspection.

Somerset Bridge Primary School, located on Stockmoor Drive, has maintained its 'good' Ofsted rating despite improving in several areas.

The school was first upgraded from 'satisfactory' to 'good' following an inspection in 2013, and the recent inspection carried out in March 2024 shows further progression.

Early years provision and quality of education at the school were deemed good, but outstanding standards were noted in the behaviour and attitudes category, as well as in personal development, plus leadership and management.

In the report, the inspector noted positive relationships among pupils, parents, and teachers, and how pupils are encouraged to 'play an active role in the school community'.

The behaviour of pupils at Somerset Bridge Primary was also commended, and labelled as 'highly positive'.

The inspector wrote: "This respect for one another means that pupils of all backgrounds, ages and special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn well together."

Vision for excellence at the school stood out to Ofsted, including an extensive wider curriculum for pupils’ personal development, and efforts to think about pupils’ local context and needs - particularly those who are disadvantaged.

The curriculum was hailed as 'thoughtfully designed', and has reportedly raised outcomes for pupils, particularly in mathematics and writing.

A 'curiosity for language and communication' was recognised in children at the school's nursery, which helps them to 'develop secure foundations for reading and writing'.

The inspector wrote: "They enjoy the books they read which are well matched to the sounds they know.

"As a result, they develop fluency and accuracy as they move through key stage one."

Teachers were commended for 'expertly crafting learning' thanks to effective training and attention to all pupils' understandings of topics.

Pupils with SEND learn well, and school governors are reportedly highly committed to fulfilling their statutory duties.

Staff at Somerset Bridge Primary feel supported and encouraged thanks to 'highly constructive' relationships.

Efforts to improve assessment in the wider curriculum were recognised during the inspection, although these changes were implemented very recently, so have 'not yet had time to have an impact on pupils’ gaps in knowledge'.

"Therefore, in a few subjects, pupils do not always learn as well as they could," the inspector added.

"Work is underway to match assessments more closely to the knowledge pupils need to know."