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Academy converter · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Merley First School

  • 5–9Ages
  • 292Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • 141794URN

Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne, BH21 1SD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.0per place
0.6 below Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

118 applications for 60 places · 46th of 52 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Every year since 2014

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 29 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
Early years provisionOutstanding

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
2.0applications per place, Reception
0.6 below Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.6) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

118 applications · 60 places offered · 68 named it first

  1. 2026 2.0; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.6
  2. 2025 1.8; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  3. 2024 1.6; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  4. 2023 1.8; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  5. 2022 1.6; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  6. 2021 1.6; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  7. 2020 1.5; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  8. 2019 1.4; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  9. 2018 1.6; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  10. 2017 1.4; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5
  11. 2016 1.9; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5
  12. 2015 1.6; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.7; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median in 0 of 11 years.
  • This school
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median

Dashed bars: as Merley First School (URN 113707), 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 2026601182.0681.13
Sep 2025591081.8761.29
Sep 202455871.6530.96
Sep 202344801.8390.89
Sep 202259971.6560.95
Sep 202161961.6721.18
Sep 202060871.5590.98
Sep 201952721.4490.94
Sep 201860931.6621.03
Sep 201760841.4601.00
Sep 2016601131.9731.22
Sep 2015 *60981.6681.13
Sep 2014 *601021.7631.05

Schools nearby

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

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
URN · DfE number
141794 · 839/2180
Trust
Initio Learning Trust
Capacity
300 pupils · 292 on roll
Free school meals
9.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 March 2015
Replaced
Merley First School (URN 113707)
Address
Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne, BH21 1SD
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

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