Academy sponsor led · Dorset

Dunbury Church of England Academy

2–11Ages
131Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
140561URN

Dolway Lane, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodMar 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 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

15 applications for 10 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

45%met the expected standard

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodMar 2017

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

Inspection history

19 January 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
14 March 2017
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)

15 applications · 10 places offered · 9 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

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

More applications per place than the Dorset median in 0 of 12 years.

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as The Dunbury CofE VC Primary School (URN 113793), the previous school.

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	10	15	1.5	9	0.90
Sep 2025	17	24	1.4	17	1.00
Sep 2024	10	12	1.2	9	0.90
Sep 2023	17	22	1.3	17	1.00
Sep 2022	14	23	1.6	14	1.00
Sep 2021	20	24	1.2	19	0.95
Sep 2020	15	24	1.6	13	0.87
Sep 2019	21	25	1.2	17	0.81
Sep 2018	12	19	1.6	11	0.92
Sep 2017	11	15	1.4	10	0.91
Sep 2016	19	22	1.2	17	0.89
Sep 2015	12	20	1.7	11	0.92
Sep 2014 *	13	16	1.2	12	0.92

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 73% · Writing 82% · Maths 55% → all three 45% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard45%62nd of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard73%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard18%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard82%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth18%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard55%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard9%

Dorset 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 100 (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	45%	9%	103	100
2023/24	58%	8%	106	102
2022/23	48%	24%	104	101

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

Dunbury Church of England AcademyThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
Milborne St Andrew First School
4.3 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

3.2applications per place
Bere Regis Primary and Preschool
5.6 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.2applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
7.2 km · Dorset

Standards maintained2025

2.7applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Cheselbourne Village School
7.6 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

2.1applications per place
Spetisbury CofE Primary School
7.9 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School
8.5 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Milldown CofE Academy
8.5 km · Dorset

Good2022

3.1applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Durweston Church of England Primary School
8.7 km · Dorset

2026

2.3applications per place 80%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: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140561 · 838/2007
Trust: Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 131 on roll
Free school meals: 12.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 February 2014
Replaced: The Dunbury CofE VC Primary School (URN 113793)
Address: Dolway Lane, Blandford Forum, Winterborne Whitechurch, DT11 0AW
Local authority: Dorset

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