Classpot

St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt

Dorset, SP6 3AJPrimaryAges 2–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
22 1st-choice / 22 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt

St James' Church of England First School and Nursery in Alderholt is a small state primary that performs notably above the Dorset local authority average for Key Stage 2, with a score of 56 compared to the LA average of 56. While the school's KS2 result is exactly in line with the local average, its overall effectiveness rating of Good from Ofsted places it among the majority of Dorset primaries, where only three out of 119 schools in the LA have achieved Outstanding. What stands out more is the school's previous inspection history: it was rated Outstanding in 2010, but its most recent graded inspection in 2013 downgraded it to Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. This trajectory suggests a school that has maintained solid standards rather than declining, though it has not regained its former top rating. With just 125 pupils against a capacity of 180, the school is undersubscribed overall, yet for the 2025/26 reception intake it was oversubscribed, receiving 29 applications for 22 places and offering all 22 first-preference places.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressPark Lane, Fordingbridge, Dorset, SP6 3AJ
HeadteacherJo Hudson
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils125
Free School Meals (FSM)10.4%
School Capacity125 / 180 (69% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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
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  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

14 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (14 Mar 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 6 Nov 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Playing FieldsDining HallLibraryMusic RoomsSensory RoomOutdoor PlaygroundSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

GymnasticsNetballRoundersDance

Clubs & Activities

ChessCodingChoirDramaGardeningBook Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt

St James' Church of England First School and Nursery, Alderholt has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.