Milborne St Andrew First School

About Milborne St Andrew First School

Milborne St Andrew First School is a small state primary in Dorset that serves children from age 4 to 9, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for both leadership and the quality of education. That puts it in line with the majority of the 119 primary schools in the local authority, where only three hold an Outstanding rating. But what really stands out is the school’s size: with just 48 pupils on roll against a capacity of 115, it is operating at less than half its potential intake. That is a striking contrast to the local average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, which sits at 56. While the school’s own KS2 results are not published in this data, the fact that it is undersubscribed by a wide margin suggests it may not be drawing the same level of demand as its top-ranked peers like Spetisbury CofE Primary, which scores 96 on the local ranking.

Academically, the picture is mixed. The school’s previous graded inspection in 2013 gave it Outstanding across the board, including for early years provision, leadership, and overall effectiveness. But the 2023 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good, not Outstanding, and the breakdown shows no specific grades for quality of education or personal development in that latest visit. The school does not publish Progress 8 or KS2 SATs scores in this data, so it is impossible to compare directly against the LA average of 56 for KS2. However, the high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals — 22.9% — is worth noting, as it is above the national average for primary schools and may influence the school’s academic profile. Without exam results, parents will need to rely on the Ofsted judgment and the school’s own published outcomes to gauge attainment.

For families considering Milborne St Andrew, the practical picture is more detailed. The school offers a Forest School, a sensory room, a sports hall, and music rooms, plus a chapel on site — an unusual facility for a non-religious state school. Sports include netball, tennis, cricket, athletics, dance, cross country, and football, and clubs cover drama, choir, and film club. SEND provision is broad, covering social and emotional needs, speech and language, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. Admissions for 2025/26 show the school is oversubscribed: 26 applications for 12 places, with all 12 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.17. That suggests strong local demand despite the small roll. This school will suit families who value a very small, rural setting with strong outdoor and SEND support, but who are comfortable with a Good rather than Outstanding Ofsted rating and limited published academic data.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Milborne St Andrew First School

Helpful Guides for Parents