SchoolScoresMerley First School
Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 9 · Mixed
Part of INITIO LEARNING TRUST
Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne, BH21 1SD
01202 888455 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 29 November 2023.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
113 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Wimborne comparisons use the 8 of its 15 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 | Wimborne | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 96% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 37 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 81% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 60% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 94 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 85% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 6th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wimborne. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Wimborne figures pool parents at the Wimborne 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 57 (84%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 118 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.1
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.
Admissions dates and schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.1% | 20.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 12th highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 30% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.5% | 13.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 19.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.4% | 4.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 10.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 72% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.5 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 15 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 95% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.8 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 13 state primary schools in Wimborne. Higher than 40% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.9% | 13.6%* | 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
- St John's CofE First School, Wimborne 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Wimborne First School and Nursery 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Hayeswood First School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Broadstone First School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Colehill First School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Bearwood Primary and Nursery School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pamphill CofE First School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Hampreston CofE Voluntary Aided First School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2013, before conversion)
- Rushcombe First School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022)
- Springdale First School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Merley First School's Ofsted rating?
Merley First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 29 November 2023.
Would parents recommend Merley First School?
91% of the 113 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Merley First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Merley First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put Merley First School as their first choice for 60 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 57 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 141794.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.