Schools by area › Dorset › The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Voluntary aided
St James's Street, St James St, Shaftesbury SP7 8HQ · abbeyschool.org.uk · 01747 852620
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Dec 2022
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 62%
- 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
- 96% of 210 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 16.9%
- First language not English
- 5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 28 families put the school first and 29 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 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 36 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 30 | 1▲ | 93% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 30 | 36 | 1.2▲ | 83% |
Results
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 5% 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 | |||
| ●62% | 62% | ||
| ▼5% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 7 December 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 6 Dec 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
97% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (38 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 97%
- Replies
- 38
- 19% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 61% who raised concerns
based on the 26% who had a child bullied