Schools by area › Dorset › Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School
Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Academy
Lenthay Road, Sherborne DT9 6AQ · sherborneabbey.dorset.sch.uk · 01935 812318
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 48%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Dorset 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 336
- 80% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 25.4%
- First language not English
- 8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 43 families put the school first and 46 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 | 46 | 43 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 45 | 44 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 43 | 42 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 54 | 53 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 8% 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 | |||
| ▼48% | 62% | ||
| ●8% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼103 | 106 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 113766)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School on 16 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 16 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Jun 2011Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
89% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (104 replies, to 5 September 2022).
- Recommend
- 89%
- Replies
- 104
- 30% · 5 Sept 2022
based on the 70% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (21%) with SEND