Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School

About Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School

Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School is a state-funded, mixed primary in Dorset, currently educating 369 pupils against a capacity of 420, meaning it runs with some spare places. Its intake reflects a notably high level of disadvantage: 27.9% of pupils qualify for free school meals, well above the national primary average of around 23%. This context makes the school’s popularity all the more striking. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 81 applications for just 42 places, with all 42 first-preference families offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.93 signals strong local demand, even though the school isn’t bursting at the seams overall. The headteacher is Daniel Lasbury-Carter, and the school’s Church of England character is woven into its facilities, which include a chapel. It covers ages 0 to 11, though it does not offer nursery provision, and there is no sixth form.

Academically, Archbishop Wake performs solidly above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Dorset local authority average of just 56%. That places the school 12th out of 68 primary schools in the county, putting it in the top 20% locally and the top 30% nationally. Individual subject scores are strong: a reading average scaled score of 106, maths at 104, and writing at 76% expected. At the higher standard, 10% of pupils achieved greater depth across all three subjects, with reading leading at 31% higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in January 2023, confirmed it remains Good, a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, which rated it Requires Improvement. Leadership and management, as well as overall effectiveness, were both judged Good.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including an outdoor playground, forest school, ICT suite, gymnasium, dining hall and chapel. Sports provision covers netball, cross country, dance and football, while clubs extend to gardening, eco club, art, drama and choir. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists six SEND provisions: specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This range suggests a genuinely inclusive approach. The school suits families who value a Church of England ethos, strong but not elite academic outcomes, and a diverse intake reflective of the local community. Its oversubscription means early application is wise, but the fact that all first-preference families secured a place in the most recent round offers reassurance. For parents weighing options in Dorset, this is a solid, improving school with clear strengths in inclusion and core attainment.

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