Classpot

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School

Dorset, DT9 6AQPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2021
KS2 Results
45%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
44 1st-choice / 45 places
Ranking
#11,801
of 13,686 nationally

About Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School

Just over half of parents who applied for a Reception place at Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School for the 2025/26 academic year put it as their first choice, and the school was oversubscribed with 72 applications for 45 places, giving a ratio of 1.6 applicants per spot. That level of demand suggests a solid local reputation, though it’s worth noting that 43 of the 44 first-preference families did receive an offer. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2021, confirmed it remains Good, and the previous graded inspection in 2015 rated it Good overall with Outstanding marks for early years provision, leadership and management. That early years strength is a detail parents of younger children may find reassuring. The school is a Church of England primary in Dorset, with a current roll of 339 pupils against a capacity of 420, so there is some room to grow.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressLenthay Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6AQ
HeadteacherLisa Thompson
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils339
Free School Meals (FSM)22.5%
School Capacity339 / 420 (81% 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (11 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Mar 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Dining HallLibrarySensory RoomForest SchoolArt StudiosOutdoor PlaygroundPlaying FieldsSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

AthleticsRoundersCross CountryCricketDanceNetball

Clubs & Activities

DramaGardeningChoirChess

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:45

After-school care

15:15-17:15

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School

Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.