St Andrew's CofE Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

Part of SHERBORNE AREA SCHOOLS' TRUST

West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, SP7 0PF

01747 811500 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 24 September 2024
Pupils101Room for 175 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 86 in 2019, 82 in 2021, 83 in 2022, 84 in 2023, 81 in 2024, 81 in 2025, 101 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.913 for 14 places, September 2026
6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 31% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Dorset comparisons use the 53 of its 119 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 66 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.

StatementThis schoolDorsetEngland
My child is happy at this school
15th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 93% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 17th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 88% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 100% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 55% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 4th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 93% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 82% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND
Joint 4th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 86% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 78% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 18th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset.
Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95%said yes 89% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 49%). 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. Dorset figures pool parents at the Dorset 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.

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Results

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

5 pupils in this year group.

Only 5 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.

MeasureThis schoolDorsetEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 57% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths Not published 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading Not published 73% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing Not published 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths Not published 70% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. Not published 104 105

"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 70%This school 2023/24: 80% This school England 62% 2022/23 70% 2023/24 80% 2024/25 –

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 offered14
Families who put it first13
Of those, offered a place13 (100%)
Families who listed it at all30

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
23.5% 19.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 3.7%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 62% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
16.1% 16.4%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.5% 5.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
6th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.1% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
Joint 5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Lower than 11% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
21.5% 12.6%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
6th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Lower than 1% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
23.5 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Lower than 3% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
4.9% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
20.1 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.9 10.7 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Shaftesbury.
Higher than 98% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
49.0% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is St Andrew's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did St Andrew's CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.

Would parents recommend St Andrew's CofE Primary School?

95% of the 40 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Andrew's CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Andrew's CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put St Andrew's CofE Primary School as their first choice for 14 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 13 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.