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Beaminster St Mary's Academy

Dorset, DT8 3BYPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2023
KS2 Results
41%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
22 1st-choice / 22 places
Ranking
#12,397
of 13,686 nationally

About Beaminster St Mary's Academy

Beaminster St Mary's Academy is a Church of England primary school in Dorset, one of 119 state primary schools in the local authority. It ranks 55th among them, placing it in the bottom half of the county's primaries. For context, the top-performing peers in Dorset include Spetisbury CofE Primary School, St Ives Primary & Nursery School, and Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. The school is led by headteacher Darren Marklew and serves 125 pupils, well below its capacity of 210. It has a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 35.2 per cent, more than double the national average. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good across all categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressClay Lane, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3BY
HeadteacherDarren Marklew
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils125
Free School Meals (FSM)35.2%
School Capacity125 / 210 (60% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

23 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Outdoor PlaygroundICT SuiteDining HallSports HallArt StudiosForest SchoolGymnasiumMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

AthleticsCricketNetballRoundersSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubChessChoirFilm ClubScience Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & Language

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:30-08:35

After-school care

15:15-17:45

Source: beaminsterstmarys.dsat.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beaminster St Mary's Academy

Beaminster St Mary's Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.