Voluntary aided school · Dorset

Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

4–11Ages
342Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
113818URN

Sandford, Wareham, BH20 7BN · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

close to Dorset median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

72 applications for 34 places · 29th of 80 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

54%met the expected standard

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 1 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		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

2.1applications per place, Reception

close to Dorset median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

72 applications · 34 places offered · 31 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.1; Dorset median median 2.1
2025 1.8; Dorset median median 2.0
2024 1.8; Dorset median median 2.1
2023 1.7; Dorset median median 2.0
2022 1.9; Dorset median median 2.0
2021 1.5; Dorset median median 2.0
2020 2.2; Dorset median median 1.9
2019 2.4; Dorset median median 2.1
2018 2.0; Dorset median median 2.0
2017 2.2; Dorset median median 2.0
2016 2.2; Dorset median median 2.0
2015 2.0; Dorset median median 1.9
2014 2.0; Dorset median median 1.8

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	34	72	2.1	31	0.91
Sep 2025	41	72	1.8	38	0.93
Sep 2024	41	75	1.8	41	1.00
Sep 2023	34	57	1.7	34	1.00
Sep 2022	38	71	1.9	38	1.00
Sep 2021	50	73	1.5	49	0.98
Sep 2020	41	92	2.2	41	1.00
Sep 2019	43	101	2.4	43	1.00
Sep 2018	54	108	2.0	52	0.96
Sep 2017	45	97	2.2	41	0.91
Sep 2016	45	99	2.2	43	0.96
Sep 2015	51	103	2.0	48	0.94
Sep 2014	29	59	2.0	28	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 69% · Writing 57% · Maths 74% → all three 54% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard54%40th of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard69%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard28%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard57%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth7%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard74%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard21%

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	54%	5%	104	104
2023/24	39%	2%	103	100
2022/23	49%	5%	104	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

Sandford St Martin's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

2.1applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Wareham St Mary Church of England Primary School
3.1 km · Dorset

2026

2.7applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Stoborough Church of England Primary School
3.9 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Lytchett Matravers Primary School
4.8 km · Dorset

Good2023

2.1applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Upton Junior School
5.1 km · Dorset

Good2023

47%met the SATs standard
Bayside Academy
5.2 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

2026

1.5applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Upton Infant School
5.2 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place
Twin Sails Infant and Nursery School
6.5 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Standards maintained2025

1.5applications per place
Hamworthy Park Junior School
6.6 km · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Graded · no overall grade2025

50%met the SATs standard

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: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 113818 · 838/3372
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 432 pupils · 342 on roll
Free school meals: 15.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Sandford, Wareham, BH20 7BN
Local authority: Dorset

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