Schools by area › Dorset › St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown
St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 9–13 · Academy
Coombe Road, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 8SA · stmarys.wessex.ac · 01305 848293
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Sept 2019
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 61%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Dorset 57%, England 62%
- Pupils
- 441
- 92% of 480 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Sixth form
- No
- Free school meals
- 20.9%
- First language not English
- 2.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Results
In 2024/25, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 11% 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 | |||
| ●61% | 62% | ||
| ▲11% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St Mary's Church of England Middle School, Puddletown was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 18 September 2019, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Jan 2025 found: Some aspects not as strong.
- Outcome
- Some aspects not as strong
- Inspected
- 21 Jan 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2019
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2019Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Mar 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
86% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (159 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 86%
- Replies
- 159
- 36% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 74% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 45 parents (28%) with SEND