Academy converter · Dorset

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull

2–11Ages
82Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
140776URN

Old Mill Lane, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1JX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

0.3 above Dorset median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

14 applications for 6 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%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 · 17 May 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
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

2.3applications per place, Reception

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

14 applications · 6 places offered · 6 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.3; Dorset median median 2.1
2025 1.5; Dorset median median 2.0
2024 2.1; Dorset median median 2.1
2023 1.9; Dorset median median 2.0
2022 2.1; Dorset median median 2.0
2021 2.3; Dorset median median 2.0
2020 1.9; Dorset median median 1.9
2019 2.2; Dorset median median 2.1
2018 2.1; Dorset median median 2.0
2017 2.6; Dorset median median 2.0
2016 2.0; Dorset median median 2.0
2015 3.0; Dorset median median 1.9
2014 4.3; Dorset median median 1.8; as the previous school

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull (URN 113825), 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	6	14	2.3	6	1.00
Sep 2025	15	22	1.5	15	1.00
Sep 2024	7	15	2.1	7	1.00
Sep 2023	10	19	1.9	9	0.90
Sep 2022	7	15	2.1	7	1.00
Sep 2021	6	14	2.3	6	1.00
Sep 2020	10	19	1.9	10	1.00
Sep 2019	5	11	2.2	5	1.00
Sep 2018	8	17	2.1	8	1.00
Sep 2017	9	23	2.6	9	1.00
Sep 2016	3	6	2.0	3	1.00
Sep 2015	3	9	3.0	3	1.00
Sep 2014 *	3	13	4.3	3	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 80% · Writing 67% · Maths 80% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%15th of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard80%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard13%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard67%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard80%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard7%

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	67%	0%	106	104
2023/24	54%	17%	105	104
2022/23	75%	13%	108	105

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

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, MarnhullThis school
This school

Good2023

2.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull
1.4 km · Dorset

Requires improvement2022

2.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Stower Provost Community School
2.7 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
Stalbridge Church of England Primary School
5.2 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
St Nicholas CofE Primary School, Henstridge
6.1 km · Somerset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
William Barnes Primary School
6.2 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.5applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
Wyke Primary School
6.5 km · Dorset

Requires improvement2022

1.5applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
6.7 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Gillingham Primary School
7.0 km · Dorset

2026

2.0applications per place 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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 140776 · 838/3402
Trust: Plymouth Cast
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 175 pupils · 82 on roll
Free school meals: 13.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2014
Replaced: St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull (URN 113825)
Address: Old Mill Lane, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1JX
Local authority: Dorset

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