St Ives Primary & Nursery School

About St Ives Primary & Nursery School

St Ives Primary & Nursery School sits within the Dorset local authority, where it is ranked second out of 68 primary schools, placing it firmly in the top five across the county. Among its closest peers in the local rankings are Spetisbury CofE Primary School, Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, and Trent Young's CofE Primary School. The school is one of only three primary schools in Dorset currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a distinction it has held consistently across its most recent inspections. Headteacher Laura Crossley leads a mixed, state-funded primary that caters for children from age two through to eleven, with a nursery provision on site. The school operates above its stated capacity of 240 pupils, currently enrolling 256 children, and is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 71 applications for just 31 places, with 48 of those coming as first preferences. This level of demand reflects its strong reputation within the local area.

Academically, St Ives delivers results that comfortably exceed both national and local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Dorset local authority average of 56%. The proportion achieving the higher standard in all three subjects was 26%. Reading scores were particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 113 and 65% of pupils reaching the higher standard. In maths, the average score was 109, with 52% achieving the higher standard and 94% meeting the expected level. Writing also performed well, with 90% at the expected standard and 32% at the higher standard. The school’s Ofsted inspection in December 2023 awarded top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision were all rated Outstanding. The previous inspection, in 2008, had also judged the school Outstanding overall.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, library, ICT suite, dining hall and chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, dance, rounders and swimming, while extracurricular clubs include drama, choir, chess and an eco club. St Ives has identified SEND provisions for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With an oversubscription ratio of 2.29, families applying here should be prepared for competition for places. The school suits parents looking for a high-performing primary with strong academic outcomes, a clear Ofsted track record, and a broad offering of clubs and sports, all within a Dorset setting. Its nursery provision also makes it an option for families seeking continuity from age two through to the end of primary school.

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