Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School
About Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School
Ofsted's Parent View survey, based on 22 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 77% of parents would recommend Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School to other families. That's a solid majority, though it leaves nearly a quarter who wouldn't. The school is clearly popular in the local area: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 36 applications for just 12 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3 to 1. Ten of those applications were first-preference choices, and all ten were offered places. On specific questions, the picture is mostly positive but not without nuance. 86% of parents strongly agree or agree that their child is happy, and 96% feel their child is safe. However, 18% of parents disagree that concerns are dealt with properly, and 23% disagree that the school has high expectations for their child. The school's Church of England character and headteacher Joanna Staples lead a small primary with 75 pupils, well under its capacity of 105.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 22 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Apr 2025Latest monitoring visit (1 Apr 2025): Some aspects not as strong
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
08:00-08:55
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: st-birinus-pri.oxon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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