Downlands Community School
51%
Capacity
215
Pupils
1.0x
Demand
About Downlands Community School
Downlands Community School in Dorset is a primary school where, based on the most recent admissions data for the 2025/26 school year, every family that applied got a place. The school received exactly 17 applications for its 17 available places, and 15 of those were first-preference choices, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.0. This suggests a settled local demand rather than a scramble for places. The school is led by headteacher James Rielly and caters for 215 pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. Just 4.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average, which may reflect the demographic of the surrounding area. The school has a chapel on site and offers a range of facilities including music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios, and playing fields, alongside clubs such as gardening, book club, science club, and art club.
Academically, Downlands is currently rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in June 2023. The inspection found that the quality of education and leadership and management both require improvement, while early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all judged Good. This represents a decline from the school's previous inspection in 2013, when it was rated Good overall. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 42% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 56%. Just 3% reached the higher standard in all three subjects. Individual subject scores were more mixed: 65% met the expected standard in reading and in maths, but only 58% did so in writing. The school ranks 54th out of 68 primary schools in Dorset on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority.
For families considering Downlands, the school offers a broad range of SEND support, including provision for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Sports on offer include football, gymnastics, tennis, cross country, cricket, and swimming. The school is not oversubscribed, which may appeal to families looking for a guaranteed place in the area, but the Requires Improvement rating is a significant factor to weigh up. The school has the capacity for 420 pupils but currently houses just 215, so there is plenty of room. Given the dip in academic outcomes and the Ofsted rating, this is likely to be a school where parents will want to visit, speak to the head, and see how the improvements are progressing before making a decision.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8BG |
| Headteacher | James Rielly |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 215 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.4% |
| School Capacity | 215 / 420 (51% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (42%)
12257th of 13,686
Nationally
1270th of 1,469
In South West
54th of 68
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
42%
Expected Standard
3%
Higher Standard
'22/23
45%
'23/24
42%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/2617
17
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
15 families put this school as their 1st choice (88% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British63.3%
- Asian30.7%
- Mixed1.9%
- White (other)0.5%
- Black0.5%
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
0
Oversubscribed
1
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 Downlands Community 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
Blandford Camp, Blandford Forum
Dorset, DT11 8BG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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