Classpot

Merley First School

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH21 1SDPrimaryAges 5–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2023
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
76 1st-choice / 59 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Merley First School

Merley First School sends a strong signal to parents before they even walk through the door: it is genuinely popular. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 108 applications for just 59 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.83. Of those, 76 families listed it as their first preference, and 58 of those were offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a school that local parents trust and actively choose. While the school does not publish a formal parent-view survey score, the sheer volume of first-preference applications — more than the total number of places available — is a practical measure of confidence. The school is a state primary for children aged 5 to 9, mixed gender and non-religious, led by headteacher Rebecca Baldwin. It currently has 287 pupils on roll, just shy of its 300-pupil capacity, so it is running close to full. For families considering it, the key takeaway is clear: if you want a place, you need to be prepared to compete for it.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range5 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressOakley Straight, Wimborne, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, BH21 1SD
HeadteacherRebecca Baldwin
Local AuthorityBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Number of Pupils287
Free School Meals (FSM)10.1%
School Capacity287 / 300 (96% full)

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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

29 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
GymnasiumPlaying FieldsICT SuiteSports HallArt StudiosDining HallForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

DanceNetballFootballCricketAthleticsTennisCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubEco ClubFilm ClubBook Club

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Merley First School

Merley First School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.