Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
98%
Capacity
206
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School stands out in Dorset for its academic performance, significantly outperforming the local authority average. While the average Key Stage 2 expected standard in reading, writing and maths across Dorset primary schools sits at 56%, this school achieves 69% of its pupils reaching that benchmark. That places it 17th out of 119 primary schools in the county, comfortably in the top tier. The school is oversubscribed, with 71 applications for 30 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 34 of those were first preferences, giving a ratio of 2.37 applicants per place. This level of demand suggests local families recognise the strong outcomes on offer. The school is a Church of England primary with a mixed intake of 206 pupils, nearly at its capacity of 210, and a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 30.6%.
Looking closer at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school's strengths are clear. In reading, 88% of pupils met the expected standard and 38% reached the higher standard, with an average score of 107. Maths also performed well, with 81% at expected and 25% at the higher standard, averaging a score of 105. Writing saw 75% at expected and 19% at the higher standard. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management, and early years provision also judged Good. This marks a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2019, which rated the school Inadequate. The ungraded inspection in 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained, and parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with 99% of respondents saying they would recommend the school.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, sports hall, art studios, sensory room and chapel, and runs clubs such as coding, art, drama and choir. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, cricket and dance. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. In the Parent View survey, 93% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children receive the support they need. With strong academic results, a clear improvement trajectory and a supportive environment, this school is a solid choice for families in the Blandford area, particularly those who value a Church of England ethos and a school that has demonstrably turned around its performance.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Birch Avenue, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9QD |
| Headteacher | Rosaleen Beaver |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 206 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 30.6% |
| School Capacity | 206 / 210 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (69%)
4551st of 13,686
Nationally
400th of 1,469
In South West
15th of 68
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
69%
Expected Standard
19%
Higher Standard
'22/23
66%
'23/24
69%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
70 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed30
71
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
34 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:45-08:30
Source: blandfordstmary.dsat.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- Mixed5.3%
- White (other)4.9%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Birch Avenue, Blandford Forum
Dorset, DT11 9QD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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