SchoolScoresVerwood CofE First School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of INITIO LEARNING TRUST
Howe Lane, Verwood, BH31 6JF
01202 822652 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 September 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 | 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
77 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
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 12th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 12th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 13th highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 17th highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 55% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 53 parents who had raised a concern Joint 22nd highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 55% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 82% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 31st highest of 53 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dorset. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91%said yes | 89% | 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. 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 35 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 90 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
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 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 1% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 16.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 5.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Lower than 70% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Lower than 81% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.7% | 12.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.1 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.34% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 81% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 68% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.8 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Verwood. Higher than 61% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.7% | 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
- Hillside Community First School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Trinity CofE First School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Three Legged Cross First and Nursery School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- St Mary's CofE First School and Nursery 3.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Verwood CofE First School's Ofsted rating?
Verwood CofE First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2023.
Would parents recommend Verwood CofE First School?
91% of the 77 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Verwood CofE First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Verwood CofE First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Verwood CofE First School as their first choice for 35 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 34 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 146720.
- 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.