Schools by area › Dorset › St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Academy
Mill Lane, Sherborne DT9 6RH · bradfordabbas.dorset.sch.uk · 01935 476515
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 44%
- 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
- 90
- 76% of 119 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 10%
- First language not English
- 0%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 7 families put the school first and 7 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 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 14 | 13 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 14 | 13 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 44% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% 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 | |||
| ▼44% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼100 | 106 | ||
| ▼98 | 105 | ||
| ▼98 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 113775)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas on 6 May 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: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 6 May 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 | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Sept 2006Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (25 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 25
- 24% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 64% who raised concerns
based on the 8% who had a child bullied