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.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for early years provision and leadership and management. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, the 2025 ungraded inspection noted that some aspects are not as strong. Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 tell a mixed story. Just 31% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well below the Oxfordshire local authority average of 61%. In reading, 62% reached the expected standard and 15% reached the higher standard, but in maths only 31% met expectations and none reached the higher standard. Average scores were 101 in reading and 96 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% on this combined measure, and sits 209th out of 242 similar schools in the local authority.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, sensory room, ICT suite, playing fields, art studios, music rooms and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming and rounders, while clubs cover gardening, film and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With just 8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less disadvantaged than many. Given the oversubscription, families considering this school should be aware that securing a place is competitive. It may particularly suit those who value a small, church-affiliated primary with a strong sense of safety and happiness, but who are also mindful that academic outcomes in core subjects currently sit below local averages.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School

Helpful Guides for Parents