Schools by area › Dorset › St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester
St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–9 · Academy
Lucetta Lane, Dorchester DT1 2DD · stmarysdorchester.dorset.sch.uk · 01305 262258
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2023
- Last distance offered
- 0.39 mi
- 0.63 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Plymouth Cast 8 · Dorset Council
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 177
- 97% of 183 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 5.9%
- First language not English
- 14.7%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Plymouth Cast
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered under “Plymouth Cast 8” went to a home 0.39 mi (628 m) from the school. Source: Dorset Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 33 families put the school first and 29 places were offered; 88% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 29 | 33 | 1.1▲ | 88% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 35 | 1.2▲ | 80% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 43 | 1.5▲ | 67% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 34 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 29 | 27 | 0.9 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Reception – Plymouth Cast 8 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.39 mi0.63 km | |
The last place was offered to a child in this criterion, at this distance (the council's sheet for the school).
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 11 January 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 10 Jan 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2010
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Jun 2007Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (59 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 59
- 31% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 68% who raised concerns
based on the 14% who had a child bullied
based on 11 parents (19%) with SEND