Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 0 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

Part of DIOCESE OF SALISBURY ACADEMY TRUST

Black Lane, Blandford Forum, DT11 8SW

01258 453120 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 12 March 2013, before conversion; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths64%England 62% · 2024/25
5th highest of 9 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 47% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils411Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 420 in 2019, 398 in 2021, 395 in 2022, 396 in 2023, 401 in 2024, 369 in 2025, 411 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.938 for 40 places, September 2026
7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 38% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 March 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 25 January 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

58 pupils in this year group.

64% — 7 points above the Dorset average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 64% 57% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 9% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 76% 73% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 83% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 74% 70% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 64%This school 2023/24: 71%This school 2024/25: 64% This school England 62% 2022/23 64% 2023/24 71% 2024/25 64%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Dorset. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered40
Families who put it first38
Of those, offered a place38 (100%)
Families who listed it at all72

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Dorset

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolDorsetEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
27.9% 19.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.3% 3.7%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.2% 16.4%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.7% 5.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
8th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Lower than 17% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.5% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
17.4% 12.6%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
7th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.9 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
7th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.4% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 97% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
27.5 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.6 10.7 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Blandford Forum.
Higher than 48% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
11.7% 15.3%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 March 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 25 January 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points above the England average of 62%.

Is Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School as their first choice for 40 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 38 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.