Classpot

The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury

Dorset, SP7 8HQPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Dec 2022
KS2 Results
58%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
36 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#8,350
of 13,686 nationally

About The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury

The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury sits within the Dorset local authority, a mixed state primary for children aged 4 to 11. In the most recent local rankings of 68 similar schools, it placed 29th, putting it in the middle of the pack. For context, the top-performing peers in the area include Spetisbury CofE Primary School, St Ives Primary & Nursery School, and Sticklands Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, all of which scored higher on the same ranking metric. The school is Church of England-affiliated and led by headteacher Michael Salisbury. With 191 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it is not at full capacity, though it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 87 applications for 30 places and making offers to 29 first-preference families. That level of demand suggests a solid local reputation, even if it does not top the league tables.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressSt James's Street, St James St, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8HQ
HeadteacherMichael Salisbury
Local AuthorityDorset
Number of Pupils191
Free School Meals (FSM)14.1%
School Capacity191 / 210 (91% full)

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

7 Dec 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (7 Dec 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 7 Sept 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Music RoomsPlaying FieldsForest SchoolDining HallSensory RoomArt StudiosSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

FootballCricketSwimmingDance

Clubs & Activities

CodingFilm ClubBook ClubEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & Language

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury

The Abbey CofE VA Primary School, Shaftesbury has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.