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Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

Dorset, DT2 7BYPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2026
KS2 Results
79%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
9 1st-choice / 9 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#1691 of 13,686 nationally

About Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Dorset that is currently oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local popularity. With 109 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, the school is effectively full. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 19 applications for just 9 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.11. All nine first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the numbers suggest demand comfortably outstrips supply. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.8%, which is below the national average for primary schools and reflects the relatively affluent catchment. The school is Church of England, mixed, and caters for children from age 2 through to 11, with nursery provision on site. Headteacher Phillip Sales leads a team that has maintained a Good Ofsted rating since at least 2012, with the most recent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirming the school remains Good.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressBuckland Newton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7BY
HeadteacherPhillip Sales
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils109
Free School Meals (FSM)12.8%
School Capacity109 / 105 (104% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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

9 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (9 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Jul 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
LibraryPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsDining HallSensory RoomGymnasiumOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballCricketTennisAthleticsSwimmingGymnasticsDance

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubCodingGardening

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearing

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:40

Source: bucklandnewton.dorset.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.