SchoolScoresDownlands Community School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, DT11 8BG
01258 453348 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 13 January 2026 , published 1 March 2026.
In short: 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Blandford Forum comparisons use the 3 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Blandford Forum | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blandford Forum. Higher than 4% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 80% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blandford Forum. Higher than 8% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 82% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blandford Forum. Higher than 35% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 76% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 11 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blandford Forum. Higher than 48% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 73% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Blandford Forum. Higher than 12% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73%said yes | 78% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 5%). 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. Blandford Forum figures pool parents at the Blandford Forum 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
26 pupils in this year group.
42% — 15 points below the Dorset average, and 20 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 42% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 54% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 54% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 65% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
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 offered | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 21 |
| Of those, offered a place | 21 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 24 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.8% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.6% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Lower than 64% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Lower than 44% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Lower than 42% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 47% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 12% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.2 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools in Blandford Forum. Higher than 79% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 22.6% | 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
- Pimperne CofE VC Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Archbishop Wake CofE Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Milldown CofE Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blandford St Mary CofE Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Downlands Community School's Ofsted rating?
Downlands Community School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 13 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Downlands Community School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 20 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Downlands Community School?
73% of the 11 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Downlands Community School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Downlands Community School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put Downlands Community School as their first choice for 22 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 21 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 113659.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.