Community school · Dorset

William Barnes Primary School

4–11Ages
162Pupils
PrimaryPhase
113676URN

Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodJul 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Feb 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.6 below Dorset median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

35 applications for 23 places · 63rd of 80 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

55%met the expected standard

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodJul 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Feb 2023

Inspection history

22 February 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
3 July 2013
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.5applications per place, Reception

0.6 below Dorset median (2.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

35 applications · 23 places offered · 23 named it first

2026 1.5; Dorset median median 2.1
2025 1.4; Dorset median median 2.0
2024 1.9; Dorset median median 2.1
2023 1.6; Dorset median median 2.0
2022 1.3; Dorset median median 2.0
2021 1.7; Dorset median median 2.0
2020 1.2; Dorset median median 1.9
2019 1.5; Dorset median median 2.1
2018 1.3; Dorset median median 2.0
2017 1.4; Dorset median median 2.0
2016 1.1; Dorset median median 2.0
2015 1.4; Dorset median median 1.9
2014 1.2; Dorset median median 1.8

More applications per place than the Dorset median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Dorset median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	23	35	1.5	23	1.00
Sep 2025	26	37	1.4	25	0.96
Sep 2024	14	26	1.9	13	0.93
Sep 2023	20	32	1.6	17	0.85
Sep 2022	25	33	1.3	25	1.00
Sep 2021	18	30	1.7	18	1.00
Sep 2020	22	27	1.2	22	1.00
Sep 2019	17	26	1.5	17	1.00
Sep 2018	24	30	1.3	24	1.00
Sep 2017	21	29	1.4	21	1.00
Sep 2016	29	31	1.1	27	0.93
Sep 2015	22	31	1.4	21	0.95
Sep 2014	38	46	1.2	37	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 71% · Writing 77% · Maths 68% → all three 55% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard55%39th of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard71%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard35%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth10%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard68%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard32%

Dorset 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Dorset median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	55%	10%	106	104
2023/24	45%	0%	105	98
2022/23	58%	12%	106	104

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

William Barnes Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull
4.8 km · Dorset

Requires improvement2022

2.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Child Okeford
5.0 km · Dorset

Requires significant improvement 2026

1.7applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Shillingstone Church of England Primary School
5.7 km · Dorset

Good2023

2.2applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull
6.2 km · Dorset

Good2023

2.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Hazelbury Bryan Primary School
6.4 km · Dorset

Good2023

2.2applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Stalbridge Church of England Primary School
6.5 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Stower Provost Community School
8.0 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
8.6 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.1applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 113676 · 838/2034
Capacity: 210 pupils · 162 on roll
Free school meals: 25.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BZ
Local authority: Dorset

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources