Manor Park Church of England First School, Dorchester
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Manor Park is a warm, inclusive school where children thrive both academically and emotionally. The school excels at early reading and phonics, ensuring most pupils secure the basics well. Every child is valued and supported to succeed, with particularly strong provision for pupils with additional needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics and early reading programme with consistent, high-quality delivery across the school
- Excellent behaviour and positive relationships that create a calm, purposeful learning environment
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with ambitious expectations for all learners
- Well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge progressively across subjects
- Strong leadership and staff morale with high expectations throughout the school
Areas for Improvement
- Handwriting and letter formation do not always meet leaders' expectations
- Some pupils have gaps in mathematical knowledge, particularly in multiplication tables
- Systems to identify, monitor and review support for pupils with SEND could be more confident and effective
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Boxing club, sports festival, singing schools concert, wide range of clubs and trips with cultural experiences
Manor Park Church of England First School is a calm and purposeful school where pupils achieve well across the curriculum. Leaders have prioritised early reading and phonics, and created an inclusive ethos where all pupils, including those with SEND, feel they belong.
At a Glance
19.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
29.4
Avg class size
28.2
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
9
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
88%
Available places
396 pupils
450 capacity
54 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Dorchester
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Dorchester
Admissions Demand - Dorset
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
House Prices
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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.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4864%
Overall absence
13.96104%
Persistent absence
308
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Manor Park Church of England First School
Nearby Schools
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