Durweston Church of England Primary School, Blandford Forum

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.1km)Possible (~3.0km)Unlikely (~3.9km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Jennifer McMullen
Pupils:144 / 140 capacity
LA:Dorset
Phone:01258452277
Address:Durweston, Blandford Forum, DT11 0QA
Trust:DIOCESE OF SALISBURY ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 November 2022

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:149456
UKPRN:10091418
Diocese:Diocese of Salisbury
Constituency:North Dorset
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school excels at creating a welcoming, inclusive environment where every child thrives. Pupils achieve excellent results in reading and mathematics while developing strong character through leadership opportunities and community involvement. The school successfully supports all learners, including those with additional needs, ensuring they participate fully in school life.

Key Strengths

  • Reading and mathematics results are well above national average, with all pupils meeting expected standards in 2025
  • Strong inclusive approach with effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
  • Excellent attendance and behaviour, with pupils showing mature attitudes and a strong sense of belonging
  • Rich, ambitious curriculum across all subjects with skilled teaching
  • Warm, family-like culture where leaders prioritise staff wellbeing and community partnerships

Areas for Improvement

  • Published writing outcomes do not reflect the high-quality written work pupils actually produce
  • A few pupils occasionally struggle to apply their knowledge to new tasks when working independently

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Cross country, tag rugby, tennis, art clubs, musical clubs, sport clubs, worship leader roles, play leader roles, guinea pig monitors, spiritual garden reflection space

Durweston Church of England Primary School is a highly inclusive village school where pupils achieve well above national average results in reading and mathematics. The school creates a caring, calm environment where pupils enjoy strong attendance and positive behaviour.

At a Glance

9.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+5ppMaths+5ppWriting+17pp

Reading has improved from 95% to 100%. Maths has improved from 95% to 100%. Writing has improved from 63% to 80%.

Class Sizes

22.2

Avg class size

22.5

Infant (KS1)

24.0

KS2

5

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

First School (SE-bound)
124m · 2 min walk
War Memorial (NW-bound)
170m · 3 min walk
Durweston Bridge (NW-bound)
541m · 9 min walk
White Horse (N-bound)
924m · 15 min walk
Manor France Farm (W-bound)
1.0km · 17 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

103%

Over capacity

144 pupils

140 capacity

4 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Blandford Forum

Low pressure
New homes approved:776
Projected new pupils:194

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Blandford Forum

Admissions Demand - Dorset

Low demand0.74x oversubscription

Places available

3,776

Applications

2,808

Got 1st preference

94.1%

Got preferred school

99.1%

Primary admissions across Dorset (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

6.83467%

Overall absence

18.18182%

Persistent absence

110

Enrolments

Authorised4.99736%
Unauthorised1.8373%
Persistent (10%+)18.18182%
Severe (50%+)1.81818%

Absence trend

5.15743%
22/23
5.81355%
23/24
6.83467%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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