Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
Blandford Forum, DT11 9QD · Dorset · primary school
Check the area around this school
18th of 79 primary schools in Dorset we can score, 119 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.4/10 against 2,559 of them, against 5.5/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 67.0 · 57 | 40% | 2.28 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 67.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0% of pupils, matching the national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2025. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in orienteering, golf, sailing, wind-surfing, and paddle boarding.
Getting in
The published school roll is 208 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How are the water-based activities like sailing and wind-surfing scheduled within the term? What support is available for pupils who do not reach the expected standard in maths?
What Ofsted said about Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School
Overview
Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a welcoming and inclusive environment where pupils are happy, safe, and proud of their school. Leaders have implemented an ambitious curriculum with recent refinements to identify essential knowledge, though these changes are not yet securely embedded across all subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a ‘compassionate and nurturing atmosphere’ and demonstrate high levels of respect, kindness, and politeness.
- Staff have high expectations for learning, and pupils achieve well, building a broad body of knowledge across subjects.
- There is a firm focus on reading, writing, and mathematics from Reception, with skilled phonics teaching ensuring pupils become confident readers.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and disadvantaged pupils are at the core of the school’s work, receiving accurate support to access the curriculum.
- The school provides rich developmental experiences, including residential trips and clubs, which foster resilience, team skills, and thoughtful citizenship.
Areas to improve
- The recent curriculum refinements are not yet securely in place across all subjects, resulting in some gaps in pupils’ subject-specific knowledge.
- Safeguarding records sometimes lack sufficient detail, which could lead to vital information being missed when connecting new incidents with older records.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff responding promptly to support pupils in need, although the report notes that records of incidents occasionally lack the necessary detail to ensure vital information is not missed.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 66% |
| 2023/24 | 69% |
| 2024/25 | 67% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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