Academy converter · Dorset

Motcombe CofE Primary School

4–11Ages
146Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
141798URN

Church Road, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, SP7 9NT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.8per place

2.7 above Dorset median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

38 applications for 8 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

68%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 · 27 June 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

4.8applications per place, Reception

2.7 above Dorset median (2.1) 2.6 above England median (2.2)

38 applications · 8 places offered · 8 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 4.8; Dorset median median 2.1
2025 3.8; Dorset median median 2.0
2024 3.4; Dorset median median 2.1
2023 2.6; Dorset median median 2.0
2022 3.1; Dorset median median 2.0
2021 2.6; Dorset median median 2.0
2020 2.6; Dorset median median 1.9
2019 2.6; Dorset median median 2.1
2018 2.7; Dorset median median 2.0
2017 3.3; Dorset median median 2.0
2016 2.8; Dorset median median 2.0
2015 2.8; Dorset median median 1.9; as the previous school
2014 2.5; Dorset median median 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Dorset median in 11 of 11 years.

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as Motcombe CofE VA Primary School (URN 113808), 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	8	38	4.8	8	1.00
Sep 2025	12	46	3.8	11	0.92
Sep 2024	14	47	3.4	14	1.00
Sep 2023	22	57	2.6	22	1.00
Sep 2022	17	52	3.1	17	1.00
Sep 2021	24	63	2.6	21	0.88
Sep 2020	27	70	2.6	24	0.89
Sep 2019	22	57	2.6	17	0.77
Sep 2018	23	63	2.7	23	1.00
Sep 2017	18	59	3.3	14	0.78
Sep 2016	20	55	2.8	20	1.00
Sep 2015 *	11	31	2.8	8	0.73
Sep 2014 *	17	42	2.5	17	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 86% · Writing 75% · Maths 75% → all three 68% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard68%13th of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard86%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard50%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard75%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth14%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard75%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard36%

Dorset 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (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	68%	14%	108	106
2023/24	32%	3%	102	102
2022/23	50%	12%	107	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

Motcombe CofE Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

4.8applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School
2.8 km · Dorset

2026

1.5applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
2.9 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
2.9 km · Dorset

Remains Good2022

2.3applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Gillingham Primary School
4.1 km · Dorset

2026

2.0applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Semley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
4.7 km · Wiltshire

Remains Good2023

2.4applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
Wyke Primary School
5.0 km · Dorset

Requires improvement2022

1.5applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Stower Provost Community School
5.5 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 40%met the SATs standard
Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School
5.8 km · Dorset

Good2023

5.0applications per place 39%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: 141798 · 838/3343
Trust: Sherborne Area Schools' Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 146 on roll
Free school meals: 16.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2015
Replaced: Motcombe CofE VA Primary School (URN 113808)
Address: Church Road, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, SP7 9NT
Local authority: Dorset

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