Schools by area › Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole › Merley First School
Merley First School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 5–9 · Academy
Oakley Straight, Merley, Wimborne BH21 1SD · merleyfirstschool.com · 01202 888455
On the mapSearch near BH21 1SD
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2023
- Last distance offered
- 2.02 mi
- 3.25 km · Reception, September 2025 entry · Category 7 · Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 292
- 97% of 300 places
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Free school meals
- 9.9%
- First language not English
- 1.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2025, the last place offered under “Category 7” went to a home 2.02 mi (3.25 km) from the school. Source: Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 68 families put the school first and 60 places were offered; 84% 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 | 60 | 68 | 1.1▲ | 84% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 59 | 76 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 55 | 53 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 44 | 39 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 59 | 56 | 0.9 | 95% |
Last distance offered
| Reception – Category 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 2.02 mi3.25 km | |
The document prints no unit; miles, as BCP's Year 7 summary for the same year.
Ofsted
Merley First School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 29 November 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 29 Nov 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jul 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding Jul 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (113 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 113
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 15 parents (13%) with SEND