Schools by area › Dorset › St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Academy
Pheasant Way, Gillingham SP8 4GG · stmarygillingham.dorset.sch.uk · 01747 824446
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 59%
- 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
- 242
- 99% of 244 places
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 11.7%
- First language not English
- 12.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 26 families put the school first and 26 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 | 26 | 26 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 32 | 1.1▲ | 94% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 22 | 22 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 28 | 26 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 14% 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 | |||
| ▼59% | 62% | ||
| ▲14% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 134020)
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 3 February 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 2 Feb 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2017
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 134020), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Oct 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 134020)
Jun 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 134020)
What parents said
100% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (40 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 100%
- Replies
- 40
- 16% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 22% who had a child bullied