Academy converter · Dorset

Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School

4–11Ages
333Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
141810URN

Wincombe Lane, Shaftesbury, SP7 8PZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jun 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

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

58 applications for 40 places · 69th of 80 in Dorset

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

44%met the expected standard

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 2 June 2026Published 7 July 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour			Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years			Needs attention
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance		Expected standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

2 June 2026
Report card · 3 Expected standard, 4 Needs attention
15 February 2022
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)

58 applications · 40 places offered · 40 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

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

More applications per place than the Dorset median in 0 of 11 years.

This school
Dorset median

Dashed bars: as Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School (URN 113778), 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	40	58	1.5	40	1.00
Sep 2025	50	63	1.3	47	0.94
Sep 2024	35	53	1.5	35	1.00
Sep 2023	60	78	1.3	60	1.00
Sep 2022	48	61	1.3	47	0.98
Sep 2021	32	52	1.6	30	0.94
Sep 2020	51	68	1.3	51	1.00
Sep 2019	50	65	1.3	49	0.98
Sep 2018	51	73	1.4	50	0.98
Sep 2017	76	95	1.3	73	0.96
Sep 2016	60	71	1.2	62	1.03
Sep 2015 *	59	73	1.2	56	0.95
Sep 2014 *	45	73	1.6	45	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 54% · Writing 69% · Maths 52% → all three 44% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard44%65th of 78 in Dorset

Dorset 54% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard54%

Dorset 73% England 78%

Higher standard27%

Dorset 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard69%

Dorset 71% England 75%

Greater depth10%

Dorset 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard52%

Dorset 68% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Dorset 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 99 (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	44%	8%	101	99
2023/24	40%	0%	101	99
2022/23	39%	0%	103	99

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

Shaftesbury Church of England Primary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.5applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
1.6 km · Dorset

Remains Good2022

2.3applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Motcombe CofE Primary School
2.8 km · Dorset

Good2023

4.8applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Ludwell Primary School
3.7 km · Wiltshire

Good2024

1.8applications per place 35%met the SATs standard
Semley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
3.8 km · Wiltshire

Remains Good2023

2.4applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
5.6 km · Dorset

Remains Good2023

1.7applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Wardour Catholic Primary School
6.7 km · Wiltshire

Standards maintained2024

2.1applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
6.7 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.1applications per place
Stower Provost Community School
6.8 km · Dorset

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 40%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 141810 · 838/3052
Trust: Sherborne Area Schools' Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 420 pupils · 333 on roll
Free school meals: 24.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2015
Replaced: Shaftesbury Church of England Primary School (URN 113778)
Address: Wincombe Lane, Shaftesbury, SP7 8PZ
Local authority: Dorset

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