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Sturminster Marshall First School

Dorset, BH21 4AYPrimaryAges 4–9MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
3 Good · 2 Requires improvement
Jun 2025
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
4 1st-choice / 5 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Sturminster Marshall First School

Sturminster Marshall First School is a small state primary in Dorset, serving just 68 pupils aged 4 to 9. It sits within a local authority that includes 119 primary schools, only three of which hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school’s most recent inspection, in June 2025, judged its overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a rating it has now held across two consecutive inspections. Among its local peers, the school is not ranked among the top performers; the highest-rated nearby primaries include Spetisbury CofE Primary School, St Ives Primary & Nursery School, and Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. Oversubscription data for the 2025/26 intake tells a mixed story: the school received 15 applications for just 5 places, with 4 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3 to 1. That suggests demand from local families, even if the school’s official rating gives pause for thought.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
Address78 High Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4AY
HeadteacherSharon Bentley
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils68
Free School Meals (FSM)16.2%
School Capacity68 / 148 (46% full)

The full report on this school

What 38 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

17 Jun 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Good

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

Source: Ofsted, 16 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
ICT SuiteDining HallLibraryGymnasiumSensory RoomChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

Cross CountrySwimmingGymnasticsAthleticsFootballRounders

Clubs & Activities

GardeningCodingChessFilm ClubArt ClubEco Club

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearing

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:30-08:45

After-school care

15:15-17:30

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sturminster Marshall First School

Sturminster Marshall First School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.