SchoolScoresThe Prince of Wales School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Maiden Castle Road, Dorchester, DT1 2HH
01305 257120 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 3 June 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 | Outstanding |
| 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
72 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 2nd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 51 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorchester. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 86% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 94% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | – | 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 46%). 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 37 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (78%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 136 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 2.0 · 2026: 1.3
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 8 places for physical disability. 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 9th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 94% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.7% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 9th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Lower than 50% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.7% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. 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 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. 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 Joint 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 63% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.7 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 15th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 9% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 7th highest of 11 state primary schools in Dorchester. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Damers First School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- Manor Park CofE First School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- St Mary's CofE First School, Charminster 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019, before conversion)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Prince of Wales School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 3 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend The Prince of Wales School?
92% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Prince of Wales School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Prince of Wales School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 37 families put The Prince of Wales School as their first choice for 29 places: about 1.5 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 113747.
- 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.