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St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

Dorset, BH22 0JFPrimaryAges 2–9MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Apr 2025
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
16 1st-choice / 21 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

If you're a parent considering St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery, the feedback from other families is a good place to start. In the most recent Parent View survey, a very high 95% of respondents said they would recommend the school, with only 5% saying they wouldn't. That survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, drew on 42 responses. The numbers behind that recommendation are strong: 93% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 93% felt the same about their child doing well. On safety, 93% agreed their child feels safe. The school is clearly popular locally, too. For its 2025/26 reception intake, it received 52 applications for just 21 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.48 applicants per place. Of those, 16 were first-preference offers, so getting a place is competitive and being in the catchment area likely matters.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressStation Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JF
HeadteacherLaura Crossley
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils136
Free School Meals (FSM)20.3%
School Capacity136 / 184 (74% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 42 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

23 Apr 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 19 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibraryGymnasiumPlaying FieldsForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

RoundersGymnasticsFootballCricketDance

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubDramaEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's CofE First School & Nursery

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