Schools by area › Dorset › Downlands Community School
Downlands Community School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Community school
Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum DT11 8BG · downlandsschool.org · 01258 453348
On the mapSearch near DT11 8BG
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 42%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Dorset 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 201
- 48% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 4.7%
- First language not English
- 36.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 21 families put the school first and 22 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 17 | 15 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 32 | 32 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 37 | 37 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 4% the higher standard. Across Dorset it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼42% | 62% | ||
| ▼4% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼102 | 106 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Downlands Community School on 13 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 13 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2017Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Jul 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Mar 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
73% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (11 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 73%
- Positive
- 64%
- Replies
- 11
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 100% who raised concerns
based on 3 parents (27%) whose child was bullied
based on 2 parents (18%) with SEND