AN urgent planning application has been made for a metal security fence and gate for a village primary school after allegations of trespassing causing ‘serious safeguarding concerns’.

Quantock Education Trust’s Daniel Hill said the 148 feet long fence at Stogursey Primary and Pre-School, in Tower Hill, would be made from V mesh and was needed for ‘safeguarding and child protection purposes’.

A spokesperson for planning agent Eleven 10 Architecture said the issue involved a former schoolmaster’s house which was within the school grounds but was now a separately owned residential property.

The spokesperson said: “The occupants of the residential property have unimpeded access onto the school premises, which poses a concern during school hours.

Stogursey Primary School seen from Tower Hill. PHOTO: Eleven 10 Architecture.
Stogursey Primary School seen from Tower Hill. PHOTO: Eleven 10 Architecture. ( )

“The application is being undertaken as a matter of urgency to ensure removal to the school premises of a significant risk to child protection and safeguarding during school opening hours.

“The application has the full support of the education safeguarding department at Somerset Council as they have become involved because of reported instances of serious safeguarding concerns due to trespass into the school grounds via the neighbouring property.”

The school, which dates to 1860 and is a grade two starred listed building, had 65 pupils aged from five to 11 years old when it was last inspected in July of 2023 by education watchdog Ofsted.

It also has children as young as two and three years old attending its pre-school classes.

Ofsted lead inspector Liz Geller rated the primary school as ‘requires improvement’, although she said pupils were ‘kind, considerate, and warm’, enjoyed attending, and felt safe and that staff cared for them, and those in the pre-school ‘made a strong start’.

The Stogursey school is a Church of England establishment and one of eight members of the Bridgwater-based multi-academy Quantock Education Trust, which also includes Spaxton CofE Primary School.

Headteacher Gary Tucker said in his latest newsletter for parents: “Exciting things are in the pipeline in our school.

“Next half-term, I hope to have a resolution to our fencing project and to start to put in some timescales and make announcements for the new playground project.”