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Gillingham Primary School

Dorset, SP8 4QRPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Oct 2018
KS2 Results
39%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
27 1st-choice / 27 places
Ranking
#12,614
of 13,686 nationally

About Gillingham Primary School

Gillingham Primary School is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 4 to 11 in Dorset, currently operating well below its physical capacity. With 234 pupils against a school capacity of 420, there is significant room for growth, yet the school is clearly a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 56 total applications for just 27 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07. All 27 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning the school is oversubscribed but still accessible to families who put it first. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 24.8%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a community with above-average economic disadvantage. Headteacher Susan Preston leads a school that, despite its capacity headroom, is generating strong demand from local families.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSchool Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QR
HeadteacherSusan Preston
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils234
Free School Meals (FSM)24.8%
School Capacity234 / 420 (56% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

31 Oct 2018
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 25 Nov 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
GymnasiumForest SchoolMusic RoomsICT SuiteLibraryPlaying FieldsOutdoor PlaygroundChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballCricketNetballSwimmingDanceAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubGardeningChoirFilm Club

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:35 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:35-08:35

After-school care

15:15-17:30

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gillingham Primary School

Gillingham Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.