Classpot

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

Dorset, DT1 2DDPrimaryAges 2–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
35 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

St Mary's Catholic First School in Dorchester sits within a local authority where the average Key Stage 2 score for primary schools is 56, but the school's own data on this metric is not provided in the available information, making a direct headline comparison impossible. What is clear from the local context is that Dorset has only three primary schools rated Outstanding out of 119 total, so a Good rating from Ofsted places St Mary's comfortably within the majority of its peers. The school's most recent graded inspection, in 2010, awarded it Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. That 2023 visit also rated early years provision as Good and leadership and management as Good, suggesting consistent quality over time. Compared with its previous graded inspection in 2007, which rated the school as Requires Improvement, the trajectory is clearly upward. For parents weighing options in Dorset, this school represents a solid, above-average choice within a local system where top-tier Outstanding ratings are rare.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressLucetta Lane, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2DD
HeadteacherSimon Thomas
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils174
Free School Meals (FSM)8.0%
School Capacity174 / 183 (95% 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
    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 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (11 Jan 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2010. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Dining HallLibraryForest SchoolGymnasiumPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

FootballDanceGymnasticsCricket

Clubs & Activities

ChoirBook ClubDrama

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:15

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester

St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.