SchoolScoresDamers First School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed
Part of WESSEX MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Liscombe Street, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3DF
01305 264924 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 October 2017. 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
93 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Dorchester comparisons use the 8 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Dorchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 34% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 69 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 22 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 58% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Dorchester figures pool parents at the Dorchester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 offered | 75 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 68 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 158 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 10 places for other difficulties or disabilities. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.9% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.0% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 71% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 70% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 64% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 68% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 61% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.5 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 42% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.3 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 11 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- The Prince of Wales School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- St Mary's CofE First School, Charminster 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion)
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Manor Park CofE First School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Damers First School's Ofsted rating?
Damers First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Would parents recommend Damers First School?
92% of the 93 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Damers First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Damers First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put Damers First School as their first choice for 75 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 68 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147559.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.