SchoolScoresSt Mary's CofE First School and Nursery
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of THE HEATH ACADEMY TRUST
Station Road, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JF
01202 874838 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 23 April 2025, 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
42 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.
| Statement | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 32nd highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 32nd highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 34th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 88% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 31 parents who had raised a concern Joint 41st highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 20% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 82% | 76% |
| 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 31%). 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.
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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (91%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 75 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Dorset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.9% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.5% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 47% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 98% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 28.2 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Ferndown. Higher than 88% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 28.6% | 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
- Oakhurst Community First School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Ferndown First School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Parley First School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- St Ives Primary and Nursery School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 90% met expected standard (KS2)
- Verwood CofE First School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 23 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery?
95% of the 42 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery as their first choice for 29 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 142514.
- 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.