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Academy converter · Dorset

Piddle Valley Church of England First School

  • 2–9Ages
  • 40Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 141804URN

Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, DT2 7QL · 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
2.6per place
0.5 above Dorset median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

21 applications for 8 places
Every year since 2014

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 November 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early years provisionGood

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
2.6applications per place, Reception
0.5 above Dorset median (2.1) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

21 applications · 8 places offered · 7 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.6; Dorset median median 2.1
  2. 2025 2.3; Dorset median median 2.0
  3. 2024 3.6; Dorset median median 2.1
  4. 2023 2.7; Dorset median median 2.0
  5. 2022 4.8; Dorset median median 2.0
  6. 2021 3.0; Dorset median median 2.0
  7. 2020 2.4; Dorset median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.7; Dorset median median 2.1
  9. 2018 2.9; Dorset median median 2.0
  10. 2017 1.8; Dorset median median 2.0
  11. 2016 2.1; Dorset median median 2.0
  12. 2015 1.7; Dorset median median 1.9; as the previous school
  13. 2014 2.1; Dorset median median 1.8; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Dorset median in 10 of 11 years.
  • This school
  • Dorset median

Dashed bars: as Piddle Valley Church of England First School (URN 113811), 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 20268212.670.88
Sep 2025492.341.00
Sep 20245183.651.00
Sep 20239242.791.00
Sep 20224194.841.00
Sep 20218243.060.75
Sep 202010242.4101.00
Sep 201912322.7121.00
Sep 201813372.9131.00
Sep 201716281.8161.00
Sep 201617352.1171.00
Sep 2015 *23391.7261.13
Sep 2014 *13272.1120.92

Schools nearby

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

  • 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
141804 · 838/3350
Trust
Wessex Multi Academy Trust
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
115 pupils · 40 on roll
Free school meals
22.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery
Has nursery classes
Opened
1 April 2015
Replaced
Piddle Valley Church of England First School (URN 113811)
Address
Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, DT2 7QL
Local authority
Dorset

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