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Academy converter · Dorset

St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster

  • 4–9Ages
  • 148Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 151330URN

West Hill, Charminster, Dorchester, DT2 9RD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Not yet inspected

As the previous school: Good2019

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.9per place
close to Dorset median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Dorset

57 applications for 30 places · 41st of 80 in Dorset
Every year since 2014

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Not yet inspected under its current URN (since Jan 2025)

For Ofsted a new URN is a new school: earlier results are the previous school's, shown as such. New schools are usually first inspected in their third year.

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
1.9applications per place, Reception
close to Dorset median (2.1) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

57 applications · 30 places offered · 33 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 1.9; Dorset median median 2.1
  2. 2025 1.3; Dorset median median 2.0
  3. 2024 2.0; Dorset median median 2.1; as the previous school
  4. 2023 1.9; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  5. 2022 1.6; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  6. 2021 1.8; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  7. 2020 1.6; Dorset median median 1.9; as the previous school
  8. 2019 1.7; Dorset median median 2.1; as the previous school
  9. 2018 1.5; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  10. 2017 1.5; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  11. 2016 1.4; Dorset median median 2.0; as the previous school
  12. 2015 1.4; Dorset median median 1.9; as the previous school
  13. 2014 1.8; Dorset median median 1.8; as the previous school
  • This school
  • Dorset median

Dashed bars: as St Mary's CofE VC First School, Charminster (URN 113784), 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 202630571.9331.10
Sep 202529391.3280.97
Sep 2024 *25502.0240.96
Sep 2023 *29561.9280.97
Sep 2022 *30491.6341.13
Sep 2021 *30551.8391.30
Sep 2020 *32501.6290.91
Sep 2019 *32541.7321.00
Sep 2018 *31471.5311.00
Sep 2017 *36551.5340.94
Sep 2016 *35501.4351.00
Sep 2015 *32461.4321.00
Sep 2014 *26461.8261.00

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
151330 · 838/3157
Trust
Initio Learning Trust
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
150 pupils · 148 on roll
Free school meals
9.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 January 2025
Replaced
St Mary's CofE VC First School, Charminster (URN 113784)
Address
West Hill, Charminster, Dorchester, DT2 9RD
Local authority
Dorset

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